Buhl Park concert series to resume on Sunday

David L. Dye, The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 19—HERMITAGE — Besides Buhl Park's traditional outdoor offerings, visitors to the park will be able to enjoy some free musical entertainment starting this weekend.

The first in the park's summer concert series will kick off this Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center outdoor stage. Sunday's band will be a Beatles tribute band, the Liverpool Lads, said Julie Eckenrod, director of arts and communications at Buhl Park.

Following this weekend, there will be a free performance every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., weather permitting. The park's Cabin Cafe will offer drinks and snacks, including popular 50-cent hotdogs, Eckenrod said.

A fan-favorite band like the Liverpool Lads may draw 1,500 to 2,000 people, while an average Sunday performance still sees about 1,000 people in attendance.

"Over the years it's continuously grown," Eckenrod said. "People appreciate being able to stop and enjoy outdoor music and grab dinner with family and friends."

The final scheduled performance for this year is Sunday, Aug. 29, with the group Jukebox Saturday Night performing a mix of 30s, 40s and 50s music, Eckenrod said.

The annual summer concert series was interrupted last year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Park officials initially tried postponing the concerts, but ultimately had to cancel the series in 2020, aside from a couple shows in October when safety guidelines were temporarily loosened.

Since then, Eckenrod said interest from bands and park-goers alike has never wavered, with visitors often asking park officials about the concert series this year.

About a dozen local groups and businesses are sponsoring this year's summer concert series, which features 21 bands. Eckenrod said there's already a waiting list for next year's summer concert series, due to the interest among bands wanting to participate.

"It was a difficult task, but I tried to schedule as many as I could," Eckenrod said.

Band schedules are available at the Buhl Park Casino, while weather and schedule updates are provided through Buhl Park's Facebook page.

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