Music in the Park: Summer Fun for Everyone

A warm summer night, the sounds of live music in the air and the aroma of burgers and dogs cooking on the grill — that’s what Stow’s Music in the Park is all about.

And it’s really cheap (free if you don’t want to eat)!

Sponsored by the , the all-ages public event begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at .

Beach party music, old standards and some sing-along tunes will be performed by entertainer Ian Lane of Cuyahoga Falls, who will set up at the Oak Tree Shelter, located near the S.O.A.R. playground.

Pick up a meal ticket for only $4 in advance or $5 at the event for a picnic dinner of either a freshly grilled hot dog or burger, chips, pickle, cookie and either soda pop or water.

Presale food tickets can be purchased at the parks and recreation office, 5070 Stow Rd., between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The concert itself is free to attend, as signed on as entertainment sponsor.

Those attending can bring a lawn chair or blanket; seating is also available in the shelter.

Colleen Mulligan, assistant to the director of parks and recreation, said while this is the first year for Music in the Park, it evolved from an event started last year at the by Kathy McConnell, assistant recreation supervisor.

“It originated last summer with another program Kathy started called Summer Backyard Concerts at Stow Senior Center,” Mulligan said. “We’re hoping to attract more people of all ages this year by having it at the park.”

The backyard concert series featured three events last year: JT Productions Entertainers in June, Ritch Underwood in July and Al Zimmerman Band in August. Each attracted a mix of seniors, some of whom enjoyed just sitting back in lawn chairs listening and some moved by the music to get up and dance.

Lane said he is planning on an evening of beach party music, with selections that should appeal to all ages.

“I will be doing a number of Jimmy Buffett songs (and) some reggae tunes, along with some familiar songs such as Frampton’s ‘Baby I Love Your Way’ and Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Cecelia,’ which I have arranged in a tropical style,” Lane said.

“I will also be doing some old standards such as ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘Summertime,’ which should appeal to the older members in the audience. And there will be a few sing-a-longs such as ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and ‘Brown Eyed Girl.’ Time permitting, I will also be performing some classics from the ’50s and ’60s,” he added.

According to Lane’s Facebook profile, the Florida native has been writing, playing and singing from a very early age. After receiving a guitar at the age of 10, he learned a few a chords and he was hooked.

Lane started playing in clubs and bars before he was legally old enough to drink. Over the past 40 years, he has played for audiences all over Northeast Ohio, Southern Michigan and Western Pennsylvania, along with numerous gigs throughout the U.S. and even in England.

The retired electronic engineer is the owner of Island Dreams Music recording studio, where he can be found arranging old songs and backing tracks, writing new songs and coming up with new ways of presenting his music.

This summer’s second Music in the Park event will be Aug. 23 featuring accordion player Eric Noltkamper.

For more information about Music in the Park, call the parks and recreation office at 330-689-5100.