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Date: 7/11/2022
LUDLOW – On Sundays this summer the Ludlow Cultural Council will be hosting its annual Summer Concert Series at the Mack Donnelly Gazebo located at 11 East St.
Michelle Goncalves, chair of the Ludlow Cultural Council, said the event has been a staple in town for years and was only on a one-year hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“It’s something fun to do in the summer, we have a range of different performers and bands, and it’s free – so in this day and age – I think that’s a wonderful perk. People can come out on Sunday evenings and bring their supper with them, or this year, we are going to have Jeanie’s Weenies hot dog truck there so you can have some gourmet hot dogs, listen to the concerts and get to know your neighbors, and enjoy a free activity,” she said.
Because seating is limited, Goncalves said people are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
“Bring your own chair or blanket, there are a handful of picnic tables already at the space and people are welcome to sit there but most do tend to bring their own lawn chairs,” she said.
Goncalves said concert goers can look forward to listening to a range of music this summer.
“The first one that we have coming up is Ragtime 5 but then the following Sunday we have The Bad Signs, so it really is a great variety and hopefully there is something for everyone,” she said.
A new addition to the series this year is that a local nonprofit will be invited to each concert to have the opportunity to set up a tent and discuss what they are all about.
“That was our effort to try and draw the community in a little bit more. There are so many people doing wonderful things to support the residents of Ludlow and beyond, and we wanted to highlight what was happening and give a chance for community members to learn more about those organizations,” Goncalves said.
Concert goers can expect to see organizations like Ludlow CARES, the Ludlow 250th Anniversary Committee and more.
Goncalves added that she hopes through the community highlights to bring more awareness about the work these organizations are doing in town.
“Even just the Cultural Council ourselves, so many people don’t know that we exist, and we put on so many different events for the town. Earlier this year we gave out more than $16,000 in grants and that supports things in the school system, the Senior Center, the Boys and Girls Club, all over Ludlow and people don’t know that we exist,” she said. “The concert series is an effort to highlight that we exist in addition to all these great community organizations.”
Goncalves added that she hopes the concert series encourages people to volunteer with the Cultural Council or other organizations in town.
Following the concert series, Goncalves said the next event for the Cultural Council is a craft fair in late September.
“A lot of these nonprofits will come back and have booths there as well, but they’ll be joined by more than 60 vendors, arts and crafts, cultural vendors. We’ll have some music, we’ll have some children’s activities and food trucks there as well,” she said. “Again, a free activity that we hope a lot of people will enjoy.”
Goncalves added that she is looking forward to the concert series this summer.
“Before I was involved in the Cultural Council, I was one of the residents that would drive by the gazebo and see the sign saying there was a concert this weekend, but I never actually stopped to join and enjoy the music and being a member now I got to all of them,” she said. “It’s just such a nice experience and it’s a wonderful community event.”
The full list of concerts and highlighted nonprofits is available on the Ludlow Cultural Council’s Facebook page.