Temperatures topped out Friday in the mid-90s but that didn’t keep people away from Dorada Park in Oakdale, as the first of the summer Concerts in the Park series served up music for all to enjoy.
Performing first at the June 5 event was the Oakdale High School Steel Drum Band, offering up plenty of selections as the crowd arrived, set up their lawn chairs or spread out their blankets, and settled in.
There were a number of food trucks, beverage options, cool treats and some vendors as well, along with booths set up by sponsors for the music series, providing information about their businesses and services.
Headliner for the first Friday night concert was the popular local musical duo, Barbara Findlay and Jim Ramont, taking the stage with their guitars after the OHS group finished their set.
Taken over this year by Love Oakdale, Director Lisa Kjeldgaard said there are also some special additions, including a weekly contest. The first was the Best Picnic Set Up and the winners received a $100 gift certificate from contest sponsor Grocery Outlet.
Kjeldgaard said each weekly contest is open to 10 competitors and they have to visit the Love Oakdale booth at the concert to sign up.
Each week will feature a prize and the scheduled contests are: June 12, Tastiest Appetizer; June 19, Family Game Night; June 26, Most Delicious Dessert; July 3, Most Patriotic Decorations; July 10, Comfiest Seating; July 17, Coziest Blanket; July 24, Best Kid Dance Moves; and July 31, Most Oakdale Mustang Spirit.
This year’s opening night provided an area for kids to enjoy a couple of different bounce houses, and there was also a video screen set up so those far away from the stage could see the performers on the big screen.
The concerts will run each Friday night through July 31; hours for the event are 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
There were also T-shirts for sale at the Love Oakdale booth with the lineup and a photo montage of the artists for the season, which includes a mix of returning favorites and some new performers.
The upcoming headliners are: Valley Fire, June 12; Clare McKeon, June 19; and Willy Tea Taylor closing out the June schedule with a performance on June 26.
For July, shows include: Randy Mandy & The Frequency Experience, July 3; Fabulous Bluenotes, July 10; Night of Worship, July 17; Weekend at Jimmy’s, July 24; and rounding out the series, on July 31, the Alex Lucero Band.
Kjeldgaard said they are grateful for the sponsors that have stepped up to help provide the musical entertainment for the community Friday nights through the summer and encourage everyone to make time to stop by and enjoy an evening in the park.
