Seven Nights of Free Family Fun at Parks Across Wilmington

This post content originates from a press release from the City of Wilmington...

The sixth annual Summer in the Parks program, in partnership with The Grand Opera House, is in full swing with evening concerts planned starting July 11.

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and The Grand Executive Director Mark Fields today invited citizens to enjoy the 2018 season of Summer in the Parks, a series of interactive, cultural experiences provided free in neighborhood parks around the city. The program, now in its sixth year, is a collaboration between the City and The Grand with additional support from The Wilmington Parking Authority. Programs run through August 1.

Each week, Summer in the Parks features free interactive arts activities such as storytelling, African music, folk art and illustrating, as well as dance and movement, sock puppets and Shakespeare in parks and public spaces. Participating spaces include Tilton, Haynes, Holloway, Woodlawn, Prices Run, Barbara Hicks, Judy Johnson, Stapler, Union Park Gardens, the Helen Chambers Playground and the Rodney Street Tot-Lot.

Christina Cultural Arts Center's "Village in Concert"
happens on July 17 in Haynes Park. 

Beginning Wednesday, July 11 and continuing through Wednesday, August 1, free music concerts will be presented in City parks from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Free water ice will also be provided. A complete schedule of concerts is included below.

“Wilmington is pleased to present yet another summer of free fun, entertainment and interactive opportunities in partnership with our friends at The Grand,” said Mayor Purzycki. “The City and The Grand continue to produce unique, first-rate artistic and cultural programs for children and their families. More than 18,000 City residents have benefited from hundreds of events since this summer program began in 2013.”

Pamelyn Manocchio, The Grand’s Director of Community Engagement, is the producing coordinator for Summer in the Parks series. “I am thrilled to be working with so many talented artists again this year. We’re particularly excited to try out new programming, such as ‘Salsa in the Street,’ where all ages will be encouraged to learn Latin dancing and ‘Empowered Voices,’ which will feature inspirational spoken word artists and open the mic to audience participation. It’s all about getting the community involved, and we’re happy to create a unique way for youth and families to participate in the arts.”

“We are pleased to be continuing this innovative arts program in partnership with the City for the sixth consecutive summer,” said Fields. “Making interactive arts experiences available to neighborhood children is a wonderful way to introduce culture and personal expression, while fulfilling our community service mission. It’s even better that Summer in the Parks offers The Grand an opportunity to also promote the impressive work of colleague Wilmington artists and arts organizations. We are grateful for the vision of the City leadership in supporting this program.”

The Music School of Delaware's MM & Friends perform
on Kids' Night Out July 22 in Union Park Gardens.

While The Grand serves as producer for the innovative program, it draws on a wide variety of artistic talent from Wilmington and the region. This year’s daytime artists include ASCAB Capoeira Delaware, Dance4Life, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Shakespeare, First State Ballet Theatre, Flyogi, Griots Wa Umoja, LaFate Gallery, Maya Belardo Music, Pieces of a Dream, TAHIRA Productions, The Delaware Contemporary and Wilmington Drama League.

A full schedule of activities can be found on The Grand’s website and calendar updates are posted to the Summer in the Parks Facebook page.  All programs and schedules are contingent upon weather and subject to change.

Evening Music Events for Families

• Wednesday, 7/11: Helen Chambers Playground (600 N. Madison Street)
  Summer Jam, featuring live performances by Richard Raw, Mz Yola, Kae Hock, Aziza Nailah, and Beyond Those Bars Students plus music by DJ MikeNite. Live painting with Terrance Vann
• Tuesday, 7/17: Haynes Park (N. Franklin and W. 30th & 32nd Streets)
  Village in Concert with Christina Cultural Arts Center Village together with Creative Vision Factory and special guest Olivia Rubini
• Wednesday, 7/18: Rodney Street Tot-Lot (4th & Rodney Streets)
  Salsa in the Street, with DJ Bis; salsa instruction from Sara Jastrebski and Sarah Savery as well as art-making project with JaQuanne LeRoy
• Sunday, 7/22: Union Park Gardens (S. Bancroft Parkway & S. Sycamore Street)
  Kids Night Out, featuring The Music School of Delaware’s M&M and Friends, plus “Become a Hero” capes with Vanity Constance and Mike Mixson
• Wednesday, 7/25: Stapler Park (W. 16th & N. Union Streets)
  Rhythms at Play, featuring the Elbert-Palmer Drum Line with Peter Antony & Friends and “I See Seashells” art project with Stephanie Przybylek
• Monday, 7/30: Tilton Park (N. Franklin and W. 7th & 8th Streets)
  Empowered Voices, with Kim “Metaphor” Graham hosting poetry/spoken word with Kaamilah Diabate, plus beaded rings with Gilda Jennings.
• Wednesday, 8/1: Holloway/Compton Park (7th & Lombard Streets)
  Grand Finale with Fuzaholics and painting with Terrance Vann