The weekly free summer concerts at City Hall keep getting bigger and bigger, with last night’s program drawing the biggest crowd yet at about 950, according to City Clerk Jim Barrows. That surpassed the 882 attendees at the July 22 concert by the Mariachi Divas.
In addition to the perfectly cool weather and the offer of free slices of cake in celebration of the city’s 107th birthday (five large sheet cakes purchased by Jima nd Margaret Barrows were consumed quickly), the Aug. 5 concert also featured a performance by popular band Cold Duck, which played fun and familiar pop rock songs from the 1970s. Cold Duck will be the featured band at the annual Taste of Arcadia on Sept. 20, where even more locals are likely to be seen dancing than the dozens of all ages participating last night.
Also enticing last night’s crowd was the offer of free brightly decorated and insulated tote bags for anyone showing a receipt as proof that they had spent $20 with an Arcadia merchant. The bags are part of a “Shop Arcadia” initiative by the City and the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce with the tagline “Something for Everyone” to promote spending in Arcadia to keep sales tax dollars in town. Between 120-140 bags were handed out, according to Linda Garcia, the City’s Communications, Marketing and Special Projects Manager.
The Arcadia Historical Society also enjoyed one of its busiest nights selling popcorn, candy, sodas, and coffee under a pop-up tent, all kindly coordinated and set up by the Barrows as they have voluntarily done each week for many years.
There are only two remaining concerts hosted by the City of Arcadia’s Recreation and Community Services Department under director Sara Somogyi, in partnership with sponsor Target, and each is likely to draw comparably big crowds since the Aug. 12 event features the always popular Big Band and Swing music by the 18-piece Wiseguys Big Band Machine, and the finale on Aug. 19 will be Neil Diamond tribute singer Dean Colley.
— By Scott Hettrick