NEW PALESTINE — Decorative lights are strung over Depot Street, and a wooden shed has been built off to the side for patrons to purchase food and beverages. The setting is ideal for a summer gathering or evening party. The hope is to bring the community together to enjoy the summer with a little music and some good cheer.
Community leaders from the New Palestine Summer Fest are kicking off an event, New Pal Summer Concert Series, Music on Depot. Starting later this month. Concerts will stretch into September.
The outdoor music series is free to the public and presented by officials from the New Palestine Main Street and Museum and Inskeep Ford.
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The shows are set for once a month, from 7 to 9 p.m., the fourth Friday of July, August and September on Depot Street located right beside the New Palestine Museum. That’s where local bands will be playing music with beer and wine available for purchase.
A band called Boogie Knights will play during the next concert, set for July 26.
“The reason municipalities were created was to bring together for that sense of community,” said Jim Robinson, New Palestine plan commissioner.
While he and other town officials take care of town business, they also were pleased to hear from area folks who put together the New Palestine Summer Fest that they wanted to do something throughout the summer to bring a little more life and interest to the downtown area.
“This venue is a top-notch effort to do just that,” Robinson said.
Town officials are even installing a decorative gate within the next few weeks on Depot Street to set the venue off even more to make the area a friendly and inviting gathering place to relax on a summer evening. They’ll shut the gate during the concerts, and leave it open for access to the street the rest of the time.
“It will add some protection and a little bit of a nice touch,” Robinson said.
If the community event goes well on Depot Street, there is some talk of having other events there and even setting up a farmer’s market.
Kim Taylor is one of the organizers of New Palestine Summer Fest and the Music on Depot event. She, along with Mark Kennedy from the New Palestine Lions Club, have been instrumental in bringing the concert series to the town, and they hope it becomes an annual summer happening.
“We’d been talking about doing something like this for the past couple of years and decided now was a good time to just take the plunge and do it,” Taylor said.
The thinking was they wouldn’t know if the community would support the idea of a summer music series unless they tried. They held the first music show at the end of May, which attracted a few dozen people.
“We just want people to come and hang out and have a good time,” Taylor said.
Organizers are hoping to make New Palestine a destination place, that people will want to visit on a regular basis. Having summer events, like a regular concert series, is a good starting point, the organizers said.
“We want to get people to the east end of our town,” Taylor said. “We’ll start with getting them to Depot Street and maybe we’ll inch it further and further each year.”
Patrons of all ages are invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. In addition to music, there will be barbecue, beer and wine for purchase. Coolers are welcome, but no outside alcohol is allowed.
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New Palestine Summer Concert Series will be held on Depot Street in New Palestine starting at 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of July, August and September. Here’s a look at the lineup:
July 26 – Boogie Knights
Aug. 23 – Nick Harless Band
Sept. 27 – Levi Driskell
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