Sunday in the Park - A Greenville Tradition

With today's economy, it's nice to get something for nothing.

And for the past 36 years, the City of Greenville has provided just that with its Sunday in the Park concert series. It begins again at 7 p.m. Sunday on the Town Common with a concert by the Tar River Community Band.

Sunday in the Park has become a staple of summer family entertainment for Pitt County residents. Each Sunday a new group will take the stage for an all-ages event. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnics and even the family dog, provided it's on a leash.

"It came about because the summer theater was not functioning at the time and I felt we needed something of a cultural nature to bring the whole family together," said event organizer Stuart Aronson.

In summers past, the concerts were held in June and July. Last year the series was expanded to include dates in early August. This year Sunday in the Park will run through the end of August, with the final concert on Aug. 30.

"For the first time in history we are doing 13 concerts," Aronson said. "And because of that, it allows me to bring in three new groups that are really outstanding."

New to Sunday in the Park will be Steve Creech and the Dixieland Allstars on Aug. 9, The Barefoot Movement on Aug. 16 and Out in the Cold on Aug. 23.

Aronson added that the additional concerts are the result of gaining corporate sponsorship.

"I don't know if we'll have 13 concerts next year. We're just going to take it year to year," Aronson said.

Steve Creech is a local musician who often performs at fundraisers and at R.A. Fountain General Store in Fountain.

Out in the Cold hails from coastal North Carolina. The band was formed completely by accident in September 1977 in the studio of Elizabeth City's radio station WCNC during a Heart Fund Telethon.

"They play all sorts of stuff and do a number of songs a capella," Aronson said.

The Barefoot Movement is an acoustic quartet with members hailing from central North Carolina to middle Tennessee. The group draws from the styles of bluegrass, folk, Americana and rock.

"They are a young group of people and I like to help young bands get their start," Aronson said. "Steep Canyon Rangers, for example, began playing at Sunday in the Park a few years ago. Now they are one of the top bluegrass bands in the United States." They will perform July 12.

"They're all coming back and they are all very loyal to me and because they love the venue and Sunday in the Park," Aronson said.

Sunday in the Park schedule

Sunday June 7: Tar River Community Band

June 14: Emerald City Big Band

June 21: Greenville Summer Pops

June 28: The Monitors

July 5: Supergrit Cowboy Band

July 12: Steep Canyon Ranger

July 19: Uncle MountainJuly 26: Panyelo

Aug. 2: Molasses Creek

Aug. 9: Steve Creech and the Dixieland Allstarts

Aug. 16: Barefoot Movement

Aug. 23: Out in the Cold

Aug. 30: David Dyer and the Crooked Smile Band

Concerts start at 7 p.m. on the Town Common. In the case of inclement weather, the concert is usually canceled. For more community related information, visit the East's #1 Local Source for Real Estate & Fun