Fri 7/18-Sun 7/20
The Painesville Party in the Park has become a very big deal, attracting tens of thousands to Painesville’s downtown Veterans Park over three days.
Nearly three dozen acts — most from northeast Ohio but some from other parts of the region and even an occasional act from farther away — in virtually every pop music genre you can think of play on three stages. They include some of the area’s best and most popular acts. And we’re not talking tribute bands, but primarily bands that play their own material.
Music kicks off on Friday at 11am with a singer/songwriter showcase. At 4pm, veteran northeast Ohio singer/songwriter Alex Bevan will take the stage and show everybody how it’s done. The Brickhouse Blues Band (pictured) closes the evening at 10:30pm.
Music starts at noon on Saturday with California singer/songwriter Alice Wallace. The day features local favorites like swamp rockers Cats on Holiday and Akron singer/songwriter/peaceful soul Zach Friedhof and his band the Bright Lights, as well as Chicago’s Bassel & the Supernaturals, featuring a lead singer from Syria, and Nashville-based roots rockers the Delta Saints, among others, before wrapping up with Cleveland’s Samantha Fitzpatrick Band at 10:30pm.
And finally on Sunday, Cleveland folk-rockers Oldboy start things off at noon for a big day of outstanding Ohio music including rockabilly-influenced bands Lords of the Highway and Rambler 454, bluesy folkie Tom Evanchuck, blues band Madison Crawl, Youngstown jam band Jones for Revival, and funky Cleveland jammers Tropidelic. It closes with a perennial Party in the Park (and northeast Ohio) favorite, Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band, who take the stage at 9:30pm.
While music is the main attraction, the Painesville Party in the Park also includes kids’ activities such as inflatables and games, a custom and classic car show, an adult comedy showcase, and a demonstration stage with appearances by people like Jungle Terry.
And all that music is free.