File Photo
Railfest was the newest and among the most popular family-friendly event added to the City of Greer's entertainment schedule.
June 9th - Carolina Coast Band
June 16th - Tellico
June 30th - Sonbachá
July 7th - The Might Kicks!
July 14th - New River Bluegrass
July 21st - Soulution
More information >> https://www.facebook.com/pg/GreerCulturalArts/events/
Original article below:
Tunes in the Park and Greer Idol have been eliminated from the Greer Recreation Department’s 2017 programs.
More popular events promoted by the city remain like the International Festival and Movies in the Park and Railfest.
Tunes in the Park provided live entertainment in the summer at Greer City Park’s amphitheater and Greer Idol competition was piggy-backed into that evening’s entertainment. Greer Idol Teen was eliminated in 2015.
Tunes and Greer Idol have basically run its course for people attending the events, according to Parks and Recreation Supervisor Ann Cunningham, who presented her department’s 2016 annual report Tuesday at City Council. The report also showcased a preliminary list of events.
“We need to do something different, it’s not what we have done,” Cunningham said. “It may have worn itself out. We’re trying to figure things out” if Tunes in the Park will be replaced with other things.
The elimination of the Friday night entertainment comes at a particularly inopportune time for Greer Station. The city has seen an explosion with downtown residential growth and by late spring all locations for possible restaurants will be occupied, with a handful of new eateries and cuisine.
The past three years Tunes on Trade was moved to Tunes in the Park when some downtown merchants asked for relief from where the stage was set up at Victoria and Trade Street. The event closed streets preventing nearby parking at some of Greer’s most key restaurants on one of their busiest nights.
The bands have virtually been the same with beach music bands dominating the lineups. “We need to find more entertainment than beach bands,” Cunningham said.
Greer Cultural Arts has been dependent on sponsors for Tunes in the Park and the $1,500 prize money for the Greer Idol winner. Rain also has played havoc in the past causing last-minute cancellations.
Cunningham said P&R is evaluating, “That we might do some kind of concert series. But we are on the fence with that.”
Cunningham said the older demographic that had been attracted to beach music will be considered if another series is scheduled.
“That is partly something we take into consideration,” Cunningham said. “It’s got to be different kinds of music and it’s got to be diverse.”
• Movies in the Park will continue June 1-July 27. That has been a continuing success with games and entertainment for the family-friendly films.
• Food Truck Rollout will be held quarterly – Jan. 20, May 26, Aug. 4 and Oct. 19. That event was initiated last year but received little response with less than 100 people attending, excluding the food truck personnel and city officials and staff.
• The International Festival, April 22, is a huge undertaking for the city and volunteers, and has proved to be a growing success. Cunningham said 54 countries already have signed up for the event.
• The popular Railfest, is Sept. 30. The inaugural event last year drew one of the largest crowds to City Park and received rave reviews from CSX and Norfolk Southern railroad officials for the opportunity to teach train safety to all ages.
• Freedom Blast is June 24. The city promotes it as a tribute to veterans and the military and does not try to connect it to the July 4 holiday. This year’s event is 10 days before Independence Day.
• The Independence Day Parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. that begins in the 200 block of West Church Street. It is a children-friendly parade, began by the family of Rita Danner, wife of Mayor Rick Danner, and it winds through the Arlington-Davenport neighborhood. Parents, children and pets are dressed in Americana red, white and blue. It is not city sponsored.
• Martin Luther King luncheon, Jan. 16.
• Eggtastic Easter Event, April 8
• Greer Family Fest, a Greer Chamber of Commerce event, is May 5-6.
• Tall Tale Tuesdays, June and July.
• Victor and Needmore summer camps, June 5-Aug. 4.
• Friends of Lake Robinson, Oct. 8
• National Night Out, Aug. 1
• Christmas Tree lighting, Dec. 1.
• Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 2.
More events will be listed when announced.
Call the Greer Parks and Recreation department at 864-848-2190 for more information.