SEBASTIAN — Rock and roll music rang through Riverview Park on Friday evening for Sebastian’s 15th annual, free ‘Concerts in the Park’ series kick off.
“The idea we had 15 years ago was to provide an amenity to our community,” said Beth Mitchell, president of the Sebastian Chamber of Commerce. “Now, it’s exactly what I wanted.”
According to Mitchell, the concert series began under and around the park’s gazebo, the only place in the park with light.
“Then, we were lucky if we had 80 people show up,” Mitchell said.
Since the early concert trials, several sponsors have jumped on board to donate and hang banners in support of the community program. It has become an event where additional food vendors and community groups come out to stake their claim in the park before the music ever begins playing.
“Over the years, it’s grown from anywhere between 1,000 and 1,500 showing up for these concerts,” Mitchell said.
“We look forward to these concerts. We’re from Vero [Beach] but we drive out here just for the concert events,” said Wilda Highland who was in attendance with her husband, Don Highland, and dog, Sassy.
“Sassy is a people-person,” Don Highland joked. “It’s a great opportunity to get all of us out at a community event.”
Another group of attendees who know one another through their memberships at Sebastian Gym said they use the concerts as a reason to gather socially outside of the weight room.
“We’ll make it to at least three-fourths of these concerts,” said Dan Gunn, one of the gym-members turned concertgoer. “For a small town, this place does community in an incredible way.”
In addition to live music, the event included a line-up of food and concession vendors, drawings for prizes donated by local businesses, and the long-time concert series staple, the Sebastian Lions Club popcorn tent.
“People get to see the yellow vests and find out what we do,” said Jim Finochi of the Lions Club. “This event is just a great way for us to be out in the public.”
Friday’s concert was the first of this year’s eight scheduled concerts at Riverview Park. The Lions Club will continue to sell popcorn and the crowds will continue to gather on select Friday evenings as the series continues into the year.
Each Concert in the Park event lasts from 5:30 – 8 p.m. and takes place on selected Fridays until June 13.