Park concerts provide challenges of the best kind

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 21, 2008

Interesting coincidence that I write this column for The Journal on Thursdays (well it’s due on Thursdays) and this is also the day of the week when several of us have joined together to host Concerts in the Park. Needless to say, they often become very busy days for me.

For instance, this morning started off with the challenge to find housing for the 11 Swedish folks who just got off the plane from Sweden last night. They were going to be in Fergus after the concert and needed overnight housing. Then, there was talk of a Midsommer Pole like we had last year.

But, the phone rang at 7:30 a.m. that plans had changed about overnight accommodations and that was no longer an issue. When I asked about the Midsommer Pole they didn’t know what I was talking about. So scratch that. Smooth sailing from here on in, I imagined.

It’s 3 p.m. and the phone rings. They’re here. Drive out to the freeway and escort them to Roosevelt Park (where all of the Concerts in the Park are this summer — it’s lovely!) They are lovely and gracious people and they say Fergus Falls reminds them of Sweden. We unload the van with all of their equipment and instruments and lo and behold, they’re missing some of their percussion equipment.

But miracles do happen and we scurried down the hill to the high school in time to catch Mr. Iverson before the marching band had to leave for Wadena and he helped us immensely and found just what Johann needed to fill out his percussion set.

Small towns are an amazing ecosystem. I wonder how I could ever function in a big city again. I wouldn’t have the first clue how to get a hold of the band or choir or orchestra teachers to help out.

Or who to call for sound system assistance the way I always do with LeAnne Jaenisch and David Stoddard and Ryan Saurer.

Best of all, when you go to a Concert in the Park you see all kinds of people that you know. And Roosevelt Park is absolutely gorgeous on a sunny (even cloudy) summer night. My favorite part is watching people arrive. They start to gather early and they keep drifting in all night long.

There’s always great food like The Lions Pork Chops, or Ten Mile Lake’s Prime Rib Sandwich, or Dairyland specials, Elmer’s BBQ and more, or bring your own picnic supper and enjoy the music and the company at Summer Concerts in the Park.

When we started doing these a couple of years ago it was slow to grow. Last year’s consistent Thursdays helped. This year I know will be even better.

I keep reminding myself about this when I watch our Summer Arts Academy get off to a rather slow start — these things take time.

This was our first week. We had to juggle schedules and combine classes, etc. but we’re making it work. You can still sign up for next week which is week II of Session I.

Plus we have another two weeks coming up in July for Session II of Summer Arts Academy. There are art and music and dance classes for all ages.

Next week Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater returns to be a part of the Academy. They’ll be doing puppet making in the mornings (probably in conjunction with Parks and Rec over at Adams School) and they will be doing Toy Theater Creations with families in the evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see some of their creations next week at David Stoddard’s Concert in the Park. (I think I’ll try to do my column on Wednesday and not wait until Thursday next week.)

Yikes. It’s time to head back over there — it’s 4:37 p.m. This is when I like to be there to watch the fun begin. See you next week at Roosevelt Park.

Rebecca Petersen is the director of A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls.