Back in the groove: Area parks ramp up community concert schedules
May 28—Are you ready to dance to the music in the great outdoors?
As pandemic restrictions begin to ease, local series such as Toledo Metroparks' Jazz in the Garden, Olander Park's Sunset Serenades, Mercy Health's Music at the Market, and others are setting the stage to bring music enthusiasts together once again.
"We get between 100 to 200 people which is a pretty much max capacity," said Danielle Marino, Olander Park Program Coordinator. "We have people of all ages from kids up to residents in assisted living and nursing homes. We have a broad range of music genres from swing music, classical rock, country, and classical music."
The weekly series will take place at 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays from July 21 to Sept. 1. The event is free, however, there is a $3 fee for non-resident parking. Participants will be asked to show their license upon entry. Food trucks will be on site.
Other outdoor series on tap include:
—Jazz in the Garden has been a staple at the Toledo Botanical Garden for nearly 24 years and is known for drawing crowds as large as 400 plus.
Metroparks Toledo spokesman Scott Carpenter said the organizers are excited to return to in-person performances, as last year's musical series was entirely virtual.
"Last year we broadcast through WGTE so everyone could still have Jazz in the Garden, but just at home. It worked out great but we're thrilled to have it back in person," he said.
This year's series begins July 8 and runs every Thursday until Sept. 9. Each show starts at 6:30 p.m. There is a $10 entry fee, $5 for Metroparks members, cash only at the gate.
This year's schedule features Toledo Jazz Orchestra, July 8; Chefs of Dixieland, July 15; Kim Buehler & Friends, July 22; Ramona Collins Quintet, July 29; Gene Parker Quintet with Lauren Smith, Aug. 5; Zen Zadravek Quartet, Aug. 12; Mike Lorenz Trio, Aug. 19; Travis Aukerman's Spruce and Mahogany Trio, Aug. 26; Chris Buzzelli's Quartet, Sept. 2; and Maloney Quintet on Sept. 9.
—The Whitehouse Summer Concert Series kicked off Thursday, May 20, with Abbigale Rose at Whitehouse Village Park located on 6751 Providence St. The concerts continue every third Thursday in June and July. On June 17 concert-goers can enjoy MAS FiNA, a band that mixes a variety of genres including old school rap, rock, dance music, and country, while July 15 welcomes Distant Cousinz, a band that plays dance hits for all ages.
—The Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre is opening its gates to resume its Music Under the Stars series. This year's series begins in July and runs through the first few Sundays in August.
Jen Brassil, events manager of the Toledo Zoo, said the series has been a longstanding tradition within the community.
"Music under the Stars has been around for nearly 70 years now. ... Last year with the pandemic we had to cancel and we were trying to shift it from the summer to fall and hoping things would get better. A lot of the band members are in the at-risk age group so it was just better for us to cancel last year but this year everyone's excited to come back and we're excited to have all the bands return to bring the tradition back," Ms. Brassil said.
The amphitheater opens at 6:30 p.m. with performances beginning near 7:30 p.m.
The complete Sunday schedule is: July 4, Genoa American Legion Band; July 11, Maumee Community Band; July 18, Polish American Concert Band; July 25, CedarCreek Church; Aug. 1, Cakewalkin' Jass Band; Aug. 8, Forte Music School; Aug. 15, Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra.
—Mercy Health will be kicking off its Music at the Market on June 3 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the Commodore Schoolyard lawn. The series will continue every Thursday through Aug. 26.
This year marks the 15th season for the music series and will include bluegrass, swing, pop, jazz, and rock, and roll.
The complete schedule is: June 3, Academy Brass Quarter; June 10, Abbigale & the Fellas; June 17, Suburban Legend; June 24, The Lori LeFevre Group; July 1, Swingmania; July 8, Way 2 Much; July 15, Caswell & the Company; July 22, The Boys & the Blues; July 29, Wolf Creek Risin'; Aug. 5, The New Fashioned; Aug. 12, The Jack Schilb Band; Aug. 19, Bliss; August 26, The Bradberries.
—Bowling Green will resume its long-standing tradition of its Concerts in the Park series this June. The series is slated to begin on June 25 in Circus Square Park. The free concerts will take place every Friday until Sept. 10.
The complete schedule is: June 25, Dizzorderly Conduct; July 2, Live Wire; July 9, Black Tie Affair; July 16, West Wind Drive; July 23, Andy & The Rockets; July 30, C Dock Boyz; Aug. 6, High Fidelity; Aug. 13, Tyrone Dunn & Kin-Folke; Aug. 20, Fatbox; Aug. 27, Bad Navigator; Sept. 3, Momentum Party Band; Sept. 10, Ernie Small Blues Band.
First Published May 28, 2021, 12:00am
