Charity, Fort Summer Band concerts both underway in Barrie Park

By Chris Spangler

Music flowed from Barrie Park as the 11th Annual Fort Atkinson Summer Charity Concerts got underway Wednesday evening.

Additionally, the Fort Atkinson Community Band has released its summer concert schedule of outdoor music to be performed on Mondays in Barrie Park, 210 Robert St., Fort Atkinson.

Charity Concerts

Hosted by the Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club, Wednesday’s event featured the music of The Belle Weather, an indie group from Sheboygan, on the bandshell stage.

Rain sprinkles arrived about a half-hour into the program, but that did not deter the band or audience members, many of whom covered up with large umbrellas and hats.

The concert continued until 8:30 p.m.

The Kiwanis Club provided popcorn, free of charge, while the Badgerland After School Enrichment program (BASE) hosted a children’s card-making activity. The organization will be offering a kids’ craft every other concert.

Upcoming concerts, which take place on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will feature: June 26, Sam Ness; July 10, Altar Boy Picnic; July 24, Fort Night Band; Aug. 7, Katie Scullin Band, and Aug. 21, John Masino Band.

All proceeds from event sponsorships and donations will support the BASE Lend-a-Hand program, the Kiwanis Charity Concert Scholarship, and other youth engagement efforts throughout Fort Atkinson. Cash and check contributions are accepted at the concerts.

Concert attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, food and beverages. Alcoholic beverages are permitted for those age 21 and over. Pets are allowed, but they should be leashed.

For more information about the concerts, visit FA Charity Concerts on Facebook.

Fort Atkinson Community Band Concerts, ice cream socials

Fort Atkinson Community Band Director Wayne Crook has announced that the Fort Atkinson Community Band will once again be performing on several Monday evenings this summer in Barrie Park.

This is the band’s 64th season of providing such concerts, Crook noted within the release.

The first concert will be held June 17, at 7:30 p.m.

The First Congregational Church will sponsor an ice cream social in advance and during the concert, beginning at 7 p.m.

The band’s membership includes musicians from Fort Atkinson and surrounding communities, the release noted.

“We take pride in performing all styles of concert band music for all ages to enjoy. If one tune isn’t your thing, the next one might grab your fancy,” Crook was quoted as saying in the release.

Within the upcoming concert, Crook noted, the band’s trumpet section will be featured, with “an upbeat arrangement,” titled: “Trumpets Ole.”

Adrian Pierce, Jim Jackson, Nancy Boyer, Judy White, Lou Larsen, David Hayes and Rusty Fogel compose the trumpet section.

Further, Crook, wrote in the release, “percussionist Bill Wilson will add lots of novelty to the Latin tune ‘Oye Como Va.’”

Attending the concert is free and open to the public.

Chairs are set up during the performances by the Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department, and event-goers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to provide additional seating.

Following the June concert, additional dates include: July 1, July 15, July 29, and Aug.12.

Ice cream socials and concerts will move across the street to Trinity Lutheran Church in cases of inclement weather.

Photos from Wednesday’s Fort Atkinson Summer Charity Concert follow:

Three photos above: The Belle Weather, an indie group from Sheboygan, kick off the 11th annual Fort Atkinson Charity Concerts in Barrie Park.

Scott and Sara Lastusky, at right, along with members of their family, enjoy Wednesday’s charity concert.

Youngsters make cards at an activity booth hosted Wednesday by the Badgerland After School Enrichment program (BASE), which will be offering a kids’ craft every other concert.

Event-goers visits a concessions booth operated by Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club members. The booth offered popcorn made available for free during the concert.