The popular Oskaloosa city band is celebrating 150 years of concerts! The 34th Army Band Drum and Fife Corps "The Patriots" stationed in Fairfield, Iowa, also performed for the crowd- our grandson was one of that group.
Popcorn and lemonade are served free to all comers by local businesses right before the concerts.
The band stand, replacing an older one, was built in 1912. The band is supported by volunteers and a small city tax supported by the 1921 "Iowa Band Law". There is an annual municipal band festival every year in Iowa.
How lovely! Years ago every town and village here in Britain had their own bands, but the funding has been cut for them, so we
ReplyDeletedon`t see bands playing anymore. It used to be a regular Sunday activity until about 20 years ago. It`s such a shame that we have lost this type of Sunday entertainment here.
How sad to lose your band concerts. We played in our small town band for summer concerts when we were teenagers. Lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteCompared to a lot of other (senseelss) projects cities seem to feel a need to spend funds on these days, building, maintaining and enjoying bandstands wouldn't be that costly. And yet, very few towns have them anymore. Good to see there are still some around you.
ReplyDeleteGave me goosebumps to read this, and am going to direct my in laws in Ames to read it, too!
ReplyDeleteThis is where we went to concerts when I was young. Barden Park in St. Cloud, MN http://wjon.com/frozen-in-time-st-clouds-barden-park-video/
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat bandstand, Nest time we get to St. Could, I will go look at it.
ReplyDeleteGranite because St. Cloud is also known as the Granite City with all the quarries around. It's over by SCSU.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nadine, have a great day.
ReplyDelete