Two Wednesdays in, Festivals Fredonia’s summer concert series is doing exactly what it set out to do: bringing the village center back to life.

The “8 Great Wednesdays in the Park” opened July 1 with Country Night, drawing lawn chairs and blankets across Barker Common well before showtime. Line-dancing instructor Connie Glasier led a 5:30pm warm-up, Michael Key opened with the Star-Spangled Banner, and then Everette Lee & the Underground Stampede took the stage at 6:30.

The momentum carried into week two, when Americana Night brought Unknown Legends to the bandshell on July 8 — one of two Wednesdays sponsored by SUNY Fredonia as part of the university’s bicentennial celebration. Both evenings were as much a feast as a concert, with vendors like Angry Bird BBQ, CHQ Beverage Co., Venus Greek and Mediterranean, Leo’s Snack Shack, Clarksburg Cider, Brad’s Blends and Woodbury Winery on hand each week to keep the crowd fed and refreshed, while local nonprofits including United Way, American Legion, Lakeshore Humane Society and Literacy Volunteers set up booths of their own.

The free event, sponsored by Gugino & Ryel Financial, continues every Wednesday through Aug. 19, with a new theme each week. Up next: Classic Rock Night with Screaming East, along with a special presentation by the Fredonia Fire Department.


For the full 8 Great Wednesdays lineup, visit festivalsfredoniany.org or follow @festivalsfredonia on social media.