A hilltop view of the Hillside Park pavilion during the July 1, 2015, installment of the Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series. Since 2013, the concert series has brought entertainment to local families, providing a chance to relax and unwind in the middle of the work week. This year’s series will kick off with a Wanabees concert from 6 p.m. to dusk on July 1.
Abington Journal File Photos
Hillside Park’s concert series has something for everyone
The Wanabees perform in the pavilion during the July 18, 2018, installment of the annual Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series at Hillside Park. A longtime favorite of series attendees, the band is scheduled to return this year for the opening week on July 1.
Abington Journal File Photos
Attendees listen to the music of the July 2, 2014, concert from the lake. Canoes will again be available to borrow at no charge during this year’s Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series.
Abington Journal File Photos
With summer around the corner, it’s almost time for the annual Lakeside Wednesday Concerts series at Hillside Park, 1188 Winola Road, South Abington Township.
Since 2013, the concert series has brought entertainment to families and friends around the area, providing a chance to relax and unwind in the middle of the work week in an environment filled with natural beauty and waterside entertainment. It starts on July 1, with concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 2.
This year’s lineup features some of the most popular bands in and around Northeast Pennsylvania. Stacy Cognetti, event coordinator for Hillside Park, said the schedule features something for every musical taste, from classic rock to bluegrass to country and more. Ten musical acts comprise this year’s schedule, including The Wanabees, Astrocats, Wade Preston, Cellar Souls, The Luongo Brothers, Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars, Whiskey n’ Woods, the Phyllis Hopkins Electric Trio, Wand’ring Aloud, and Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax.
Cognetti said the concert series also offers a great opportunity for community members to connect.
“NEPA winters can be dreary, and this gives people a chance to get out during the summer and see each other,” she said, adding that some attendees only see one another annually during the concerts. “It’s a way to create a better sense of community,” Cognetti said.
Admission for the series is always free, and guests are invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs to relax in the summer evening. On-site food trucks and local organizations will offer fare such as burgers or wraps, or guests can bring their own picnic dinners. The series, which, according to organizers, draws about 3,000 attendees per year, also provides ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Cognetti explained that the concerts draw parents of children whose sports teams may be practicing at or near the park.
“They drop their kids off or are coming to pick them up at practice, and they stay and watch the band,” she said. The two onsite playgrounds also allow for fun for the entire family. Additionally, visitors may borrow canoes free of charge during the concerts to listen to the tunes while floating along the gentle waters of the lake, and anyone with a current fishing license can enjoy that pastime while listening to the music from the lake shore. Concert organizers also ensure that lifeguards are present during the events, Cognetti said, to make sure everyone stays safe.
The Lakeside Wednesday Night Concert Series is presented annually by the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board (AAJRB), the volunteer organization that oversees the 100-acre Hillside Park.
Cognetti said the board is especially thankful to the numerous sponsors whose funding makes the event possible, including NET Federal Credit Union, Perez Design Build Remodel LLC, Dickson City Hyundai, attorneys McDonald & MacGregor LLC, Damage Control, Bailey’s Cafe/Constantine’s Catering, the Overlook Estate Foundation, and Lackawanna County Department of Arts and Culture.
For information, including inclement weather updates, visit the AAJB’s Hillside Park Facebook page at facebook.com/aajrbHillsidePark.
