Nearly 18 months after the start of the pandemic, confusion and hesitancy continues to loom especially when it comes to large gatherings. Some events are back as if nothing has happened, others are on with capacity limits or other restrictions, and some have just opted to wait another year.
The situation in Chester County is no different with some events, like West Chester’s Halloween Parade, Turks’ Head Music Festival and Kennett Square’s Mushroom Festival, back on. While others, like the Chester County Restaurant Festival and West Chester’s popular Christmas Parade, remain paused for another year. In the meantime, all these cancelations are leaving holes in the Borough of West Chester’s otherwise active events calendar.
“I am seeing a lot of music series in parks this summer, and West Chester has such great parks.”
RENEE RYAN, A REALTOR WITH THE GARY MERCER TEAM
“Unfortunately we couldn’t do Swingin’ Summer Thursdays or Restaurant Fest. There will be no Chili Festival this year, but the one thing we can do is events in the parks,” said Renee Ryan, a West Chester-based realtor and co-organizer of the Hoopes concert event.
So this week the West Chester Park & Rec Department with support from sponsor’s like Renee’s Gary Mercer Team at Keller Williams Realty, the West Chester Co-Op and the Artesian Exchange, will add a new event to its summer lineup, Hoopes Park’s Under the Stars outdoor concert.
“I think people are getting creative,” Renee says, speaking of how municipalities are dealing with COVID restrictions. “I am seeing a lot of music series in parks this summer and West Chester has such great parks.” Indeed we do.
To see for yourself, come out this Thursday to enjoy a free concert by the New York City acoustic blues duo New Moon. In addition to the music, there will be a selection of food trucks to dine at including those from Dia Doce, Surf n’ Turf, and Mezzaluna Pizza and for the kids, complimentary face-painting.
The music starts at 6:30 p.m. and is contingent on the weather cooperating – the original date for the concert was July 29 but the event had to be moved after tornados threatened the area last week – but really the weather is not the biggest hurdle.
“The biggest challenge,” says Renee, “is getting the food trucks.”
Who knew? But if the sponsors can prove a value to the vendors with a successful outing, there could be more concerts coming this fall.
Can’t make Thursday’s event? West Chester summer of music continues with a free concert at Marshall Square Park, August 12.
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