Fun Bus helps provide additional access to Friday Night Bandstand

LANCASTER − A local business is teaming up with the city to help the community have a good time.

The Fun Bus is launching a new transportation option for the Friday Night Bandstand. Beginning on May 26 at 4 p.m., the Fun Bus will operate with a new 20-minute shuttle loop with multiple boarding locations throughout the downtown area.

Friday Night Bandstand is an event put together by Lancaster Parks and Recreation which is currently in its 41st season. This event is sponsored in part by Fairfield Federal Bank.

According to Jennifer Shamblin, Recreation Supervisor for Lancaster Parks and Recreation, the Friday Night Bandstand event has continued to gain popularity over the years. This includes people reaching out to see if their bands can participate.

"It has continued to grow over the last five or six years, getting bigger bands," said Shamblin. "The interest is out there. I constantly have people sending information, wanting their bands to be here."

Friday Night Bandstand is a weekly summer event in Downtown Lancaster that includes musical performances, starting this Friday. The 2023 lineup includes 60s British Rock tribute band British Invasion, Elvis tribute artist Todd Berry, and more.

"We have everything from Motown to classic rock, we have an Elvis impersonator, which is apparently just amazing," said Shamblin. "We always have British Invasion, they've been here several years."

Shamblin said that some of the bands included in the lineup are returning from previous years due to popular demand. Despite this, she said they also try to add new bands as well.

"It's a mix of everything, but we tried to bring in some new bands," said Shamblin.

"We do listen, I get a lot of emails with requests," said Shamblin. "We do listen to the public, but we don't take a vote. We try to give everybody something different each week."

Shamblin said that the Fun Bus contacted the Parks Department and Destination Downtown Lancaster to collaborate on their help with the Friday Night Bandstand.

"I thought it was a great idea, a lot of times people are like, 'okay where do I park'," said Shamblin. "Maybe if they have issues getting around, accessibility issues, maybe if it's too far for them to walk it might keep them from coming downtown. It just opens up that opportunity for people to come out and enjoy the evening."

Complete Friday Night Bandstand schedule:

• May 26: Kade Dennis and Bad Influence

• June 2: Motown Sounds Of Touch

• June 9: Kalysta Minton and Stadium 11

• June 16: Todd Berry

• June 23: Chris Nash and Julia Neville

• June 30: Acoustic Super Friends

• July 7: Lancaster Community Band and Lancaster Men's Chorus

• July 14: British Invasion

• July 21/28: Lancaster Festival

• Aug. 4: Billy Payne and Alan Carl Band

• Aug. 11: Debbie Wright & Friends and Blue Steel

Concerts start at 7 p.m. at the bandstand located at 104 N. Broad Street.

Aaron Burd is a breaking news and government reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him via email at AMBurd@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on Twitter @AaronMBurd.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Fun Bus helps provide additional access to Friday Night Bandstand