The 15th season of Concerts in the Park came to a memorable close on Thursday, August 21st, as over 300 people gathered at the Ukrainian Bandstand in Island Park for a final evening of free, live music under the summer sky.
The season-capping event featured performances by Archer Company, Will Benn & TJ Murdock, and headliners Johnny Dietrich and Kickin’ Up Dust, who brought the long-running community series to a celebratory finish. The night marked the culmination of a summer of bi-weekly Thursday shows that have become a beloved local tradition.
The dedicated team behind the concerts, including Johnny Dietrich, Louanne Anderson, "Fireball" Paul Shepherd, and Brent Wright, has worked for months to bring the music back for its milestone 15th anniversary year. Reflecting on the growth of the event from its humble beginnings, Dietrich is amazed by the community’s support.
Dietrich says, "I was in it from the very beginning when there were like 10 people who would show up, and then we built it up from that. And now there are hundreds. It's a pleasure to have everybody here. Everybody comes to visit to listen to the music, and there are lots of different people who meet up here, and it's nice; you can visit and listen to some music and beautiful surroundings."
Community support fuels free music
The free concert series is made possible entirely through local sponsorship and community partnerships. For the last of the season, concert-goers enjoyed concessions provided by the local Manitoba Metis Federation Cultural and Heritage Committee, which served hot dogs and burgers, while the "Gotta Have That Lemonade" stand provided refreshing drinks.
Anderson emphasizes that the event’s success is a true community effort, supported by a roster of local businesses.
Louanne Anderson says, "Without our sponsors, we couldn't do the shows because the music is free. So we have a great list of sponsors. I work with them. The four of us on our committee do the planning for the music. I think the best thing is we work as such a great team for this, and we all enjoy working with each other."
This year’s sponsors include Homestead Co-op, UCT (United Commercial Travellers), Southport Aerospace, the Shindleman Family, Century 21 Fox Realty, Ron Moffit Memorial Services, Portage Signs and Lettering, and Jeff and Lynn Bereza.
Overcoming challenges for a successful season
While the final night saw a strong turnout, the season was not without its challenges. Dietrich and Anderson both noted that the second-to-last concert saw significantly lower attendance due to poor air quality from wildfire smoke drifting into the Portage la Prairie region.
Despite the weather-related hurdles, the series consistently drew crowds throughout the summer, offering a diverse musical lineup for all ages.
Louanne Anderson says, "We work to have music for all ages. We work to showcase a balance of local talent and also bring in a few outside people. This summer, the weather was definitely a challenge with all the forest fires and smoke. But in this setting with all the trees, it wasn't as bad. We still had hundreds of people out for each show."
As the final chords echoed through Island Park, the committee’s thoughts are already turning to the future. The team is committed to continuing the tradition that brings the community together through a shared love of live music.
Johnny Dietrich says, "We're already planning next year."
Louanne Anderson adds, "I think it's just a great positive community experience. And people tell us that, and they've asked us, as Johnny said, keep doing it. So yes, we're already planning for next year as well."
