Janssen Park Players – The Perfect Summertime Family Entertainment!

BY MELANIE BUCK –

Janssen Park is alive with the sound of music! Every Thursday evening, weather permitting, the voices, strums, and drums of local talents can be heard filling the air with their sweet melodies. The event is called the Janssen Park Players and each Thursday, a different band takes the stage and performs for free as a service to the area from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

John Vacca said that Kevin Sweeney is the brainchild behind the idea and that it’s proved to be a popular attraction. Vacca said that Sweeney, a musician himself has a band called Straight Tequila with partner Tony Robbins and he came up with the idea to perform free concerts in the park and put his thoughts into action. “Kevin wanted to do this so he drove across Tennessee to buy a stage, he purchased a trailer to carry the stage and sound equipment in, he got permission from the city to do it, the Mayor gave his blessing, and Janssen Park Players was created,” said Vacca.

Some of the bands that play for the crowd are Straight Tequila, Brothers and Sons, Richie Owens, Polk 74, and Rick Gerard. A variety of music is played from a venue similar to an amphitheater. Vacca explained that the stage is set on the hill close to the springhouse and people will fill the bottom of the hill with their chairs and blankets. He also said that some bring their families and picnic style dinners with them and just sit back, eat, and enjoy the show. “We have anywhere from 30-50 people come each week. Sometimes when there are members from other bands in the crowd, they’ll invite them on stage and just jam,” said Vacca.

Vacca added, “It’s a great idea that Kevin came up with. There’s a group of us who help out. A couple of guys will show up and help set up and it’s just volunteers.” He said that if you’d like to help volunteer, they start setting up in the park about 5 p.m. and set up the stage and sound system. The music starts at 6 p.m. and goes until about 8, every Thursday in Janssen Park.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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