Downtown music returns to gazebo
Friday night music will be brought back to the downtown gazebo for a series of free, live musical events.
The first musical act of the summer was held at the Farmers Market last week, which was a change from last year when events were first held at the downtown gazebo. Organizers said Tuesday the music will return to the gazebo beginning this Friday.
This year’s venue change was due to anticipated construction as part of the Main Street McMinnville downtown economic development project, which is an undertaking expected to cost around $5 million.
Last year’s event, according to organizers from Main Street’s Promotions Committee, got off to a slow start as it did again Friday, but the event drew hundreds downtown as summer wore on.
With that in mind, organizers said they still planned to play host to the events despite expected construction, but had also expected construction to make having live public events downtown difficult and moved the events to the Farmers Market for that reason.
“We moved to the market because we felt the construction would be going on in full force,” said Main Street’s Carla King, who is also on the Promotions Committee.
Members of the committee also said they believed the move would be a good complement to the success of the Farmers Market as a reason for moving the events to the market.
“That just seemed like the perfect place,” King added. “But since construction has been delayed, we will remain at the gazebo until further notice.”
In addition to changing the venue, the name of the event will simply be called Music on Main to simplify explanations about where the event is held should construction begin before the Friday night offerings are completed for the summer, committee members also said.
Additionally, committee members invite non-profit groups to set up booths for the musical events.
A listing of events, except for the dates of July 9, July 23 and Aug. 27, which are to be announced, is as follows: Friday, Caravan Singers (gospel); June 25, Barbersharps (show music); July 2, Geranimo (1970s and ’80s); July 16, Gene and Friends (ballad, country, sacred); July 30, Good Noise and Praise Hymn (contemporary Christian); Aug. 6, Shot in the Dark (bluegrass, country, gospel); Aug. 13, Just Lookin’ Around (bluegrass); and Aug. 20, Silver and Gold Band (variety).
Members of the Promotions Committee said they did not plan to ask the city permission to close the street for Friday’s event due to time constraints but hoped to gain permission to close it for future events. Music is expected to begin on Fridays at 6 p.m.