Welcome summer music to the park

This summer marks the 15th year of concerts in Fountain Park sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation. What began as an experiment has blossomed into one of the most anticipated and attended outdoor concert series in the state and the region. Most Friday nights throughout the summer, you can expect a concert at the edge of downtown Van Wert in Fountain Park, free of charge.

Some of us old-timers can remember concerts with ice cream socials in what was then called Third Ward Park. Pictures can certainly be found of such community gatherings. I can remember, as a member of the Van Wert High School Band, playing concerts in the middle of the park, sitting in a concrete band stage. I believe it was a VW Band Parents fundraiser and the high school band would preview some of its music for the upcoming football season.

Remember the old cranked ice cream freezers? And the big tubs of bottled pop on ice? Bottled water? You would have thought that was a ridiculous idea back then! After all, there was a water fountain to drink water from … free of charge! My, how times have changed.

Starting 15 years ago, I was empowered by The Van Wert County Foundation to start an ongoing concert series throughout the summer. The only thing going on in Fountain Park at that time was an occasional local concert and the community band; then called the Masonic Band. They would play three times per summer in the park.

Thankfully, the community concert band has continued as John and Jean Ann Auld passed the baton to Elmer Broecker, former Lincolnview band director, who passed the baton on to Richard Sherrick, retired Parkway band director. The band is actually flourishing under Sherrick’s direction and will start the summer off in Fountain Park this Friday night. The concert begins at 7 p.m., just as the Fountain Park Summer Music concerts do.

I just saw the Van Wert Parks Department putting our new Fountain Park Summer Music Series sign up on the crossbar of the current band shell. The old one has served us well for 14 years, but was becoming tattered and unusable any longer.  We have replaced it with a colorful new one that welcomes everyone to music in Fountain Park throughout the summer.

Following this Friday’s concert with the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band, we start with the first of eight professional concerts on Friday, June 3.  This is Peony and Art-Rageous festivals’ weekend and, if we have good weather, promises to be a big crowd to open our season. There will be food vendors, in addition to the Peony Festival Committee serving food out of the Rotary Concession Booth.

The Together Band will be playing songs you know and love from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.  It will be a family friendly atmosphere, where everyone can come to the park, mingle, catch up with friends from the community, and greet many visitors to our friendly city.

If we ever run into day-long rains that prevent us from being outdoors, we will move into the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on Ohio 118 (South Shannon Street) on the south edge of town.  This is a last resort, but a good option to have. You will know if you drive by the park and don’t see any activity by 4 p.m.

Speaking of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, the date has been set for the unveiling of the 2016-17 Grand Series. It will be June 15. Mark your calendars now and plan to be the first to know about our big 10th year of “Wow” at the Niswonger. More details to come.

Until then, here’s to a beautiful, sunny, and warm summer of Friday nights and a whole lot of musical fun, fellowship, and food in Fountain Park … for the 15th year in a row.

FINÉ.