Summer 2018: Free outdoor music, movie series
By Corey McMaken | The Journal Gazette
It's time to have fun in the sun (and shade!), whether that means hanging out in a park, getting wet along the rivers or heading out to hear a band. And a lot of that fun is available at no cost.
Here are some free summer music and movie series in the area. All dates and times are subject to change, especially when weather doesn't cooperate with these outdoor events.
Lunch on the Plaza
The Downtown Improvement District organizes the weekly lunchtime concerts that run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays at Freimann Square at Clinton and Main streets. Food trucks and other vendors will be on site.
Thursday: Alicia Pyle Quartet
June 14: Mike Conley
June 21: Jon Durnell
June 28: Blue Pluto
July 5: Basketcase
July 12: Chaquis Maliq
July 19: Todd Harrold and Nick Bobay
July 26: Smooth Edge 2
Aug. 2: Sunny Taylor
Aug. 9: Will Certain
Aug. 16: Joe Justice
Aug. 23: The Jug Huffers
Aug. 30: Kitchen Table Players
Friday Nites Live
The concert series takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the fountain at Jefferson Pointe, 4130 W. Jefferson Blvd. The fountain is also the site for Busker Nights on Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Aug. 28.
Tonight: Junk Yard Band
June 8: Urban Legend
June 15: Todd Harrold Band
June 22: Hubie Ashcraft
June 29: Unlikely Alibi
July 6: Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra
July 13: Brother
July 20: Ty Causey
July 27: Big Caddy Daddy
Aug. 3: Jen & the Foggy Creek Band
Aug. 10: reGeneration X
Aug. 17: Heady Times
Aug. 00: New Millennium Jazz Orchestra
Aug. 31: Good Night Gracie
Rock the Plaza
This concert series takes place at 6 p.m. Saturdays downtown outside the Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza.
June 9: Morning After, Grace Minnick, the Mighty McGuiggans, Phil's Family Lizard
June 16: The Kickbacks, Mike Conley, KelsieCote, Tone Junkies
June 23: Full Speed Reverse, Dan Dickerson's Harp Condition, Los Lemons, Orange Opera
June 30: Rain Kings, Marnee, Damon Mitchell, Sum Morz
July 7: Jen & the Foggy Creek Band, Shane & Eric, the Last Word, Black Kat Moan
July 14: My Soul's Revolution, Chilly Addams, D Ferren, URB
July 21: APQ Harmonic, Dave Todoran & the Mobile Homewreckers, Sunny Taylor Band, Exterminate All Rational Thought
July 28: SoftGut, Yo Yo Pa, Monarch, Zen BBQ, Wailhounds
Aug. 4: CatBox, Joe Martyn Ricke & Miracle Machine, Taj Maholics, Brother
Aug. 11: Kerosec, Dan Smyth, Secret Mezzanine, Jon Durnell Band
Aug. 18: HotHouse, elle/the Remnant, the Windows, Unlikely Alibi
Aug. 25: Heady Times, Insta Gators, the Humanity, Grateful Groove
DeKalb Outdoor Theater
Events at the theater, 301 Center St., Auburn, are free with donations accepted. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Times are 7:30 p.m.
Tonight: Big Caddy Daddy
June 8: Old Crown Brass Band
June 15: Fort Wayne Jazz Orchestra
June 22: Auburn Actors Theater
June 29: Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Patriotic Pops concert
July 6: Renz Brothers, Goat's Beards
July 13: Farmland Jazz Band
July 20: The Bulldogs
July 27: Guy Penrod, Pray About Everything
Aug. 3: The Hubie Ashcraft Band
Aug. 10: Choice Band
Music in the Park
The Adams Public Library system has a summer concert series from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month in Storybook Park, across the street from its Decatur branch at 128 S. 3rd St. Bring blankets or lawn chairs.
June 10: Jenessa Smedley
June 24: Musiclectics
July 8: Kent Young
July 22: Janice Anne and Gene Fugate
Aug. 12: Ryan Green
Aug. 26: Blue Pluto
Music of the Wild
The Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site, 1205 Pleasant Point in Rome City, will have two more installments of its Music of the Wild series this summer. The series, which began in May, brings in music groups to perform at different locations on the site.
On June 16, a quintet from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will play at the Hemingway Wetlands wildlife viewing blind. On July 21, the Jughuffers will play at the Sower Barn. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Honeywell Plaza Music Series
The Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St. in Wabash, hosts free concerts from 5 to 7 p.m. every Thursday this month
Thursday: Tuxedo Junction
June 14: Time Travelers
June 21: Three to One
On June 28, the Mississinewa Valley Band will present Patriotic Pops in the Ford Theater at 7:30 p.m.
Living Fort Wayne Concert Series
The Living Fort Wayne Concert Series at Headwaters Park has shows June 27 and Aug. 1, but has not announced bands that will be performing. Go to www.livingfortwayne.com for more information.
Foellinger Theatre
Events are at the outdoor theater in Franke Park, 3411 Sherman Blvd.
Concerts
June 12: Fort Wayne Area Community Band, 7:30 p.m.
June 19: Old Crown Brass Band, 7:30 p.m.
July 10: Fort Wayne Area Community Band, 7:30 p.m.
July 27: Fort Wayne Children's Choir, 7 p.m.
Aug. 14: Fort Wayne Area Community Band, 7:30 p.m.
Movies
Showing at 8 p.m.
July 5: “Despicable Me”
July 12: “Despicable Me 2”
July 19: “Despicable Me 3”
July 26: “Minions”
Aug. 2: “Finding Nemo”
Aug. 9: “Finding Dory”
Sweets So Geek movie series
The sweets shop shows movies in its parking lot, 3410 N. Anthony Blvd. A food truck and beer stand is scheduled for each night and there will be trivia and other contests. The movies start shortly after sundown. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
June 23: “The Sandlot”
July 21: “Clue”
Aug. 18: “The Princess Bride”
Sept 8: “Goonies”
Oct. 6: “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Screen on the Green
Praise Lutheran Church, 1115 W. Dupont Road, has four dates set for its dinner and a movie series. Dinner is at 7:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 8:45 p.m.
On June 15, the church will show “Wonder.” Movies will be scheduled soon for July 6 and 27 and Aug. 17. Go to www.praiselutheran.org or call 490-7729 for schedule updates and more information.
