The summer days are long, tedious and often uncomfortable enough to drive us indoors.
There are few things that can coax us out of isolation, though, and one of the most successful has been Sounds of Summer.
Thursday night, the four-event concert series at Columbus Riverwalk willl kick off for the 12th time, featuring the music of Style the Band from 7-9 p.m.
In its inaugural season, organizers were uncertain what to expect. Would folks brave the heat to gather for an outdoor concert?
The answer to that question then, as now, has been a resounding, “Yes!”
For the past seven years, the free concert series has been named a Top 20 summer event by the Southeast Tourism Society. Sponsored by Main Street Columbus and the Columbus Lowndes Chamber of Commerce since its inception, the popularity of the event has attracted other sponsors in recent years. This year, CSpire is the presenting sponsor. Another 11 organizations are also on board.
For all of the hard work of organizers, Sounds of Summer is a pretty straight-forward proposition: Admission is free. Food and drink are available for purchase. All you need to do is bring your lawn chair or blanket and find a place to set up camp.
The appeal of the series lies in that simplicity. All you have to do is show up. And it is not uncommon for concert-goers to arrive as much as an hour before the music begins at 7.
Anyone who has attended Sounds of Summer understands that this event is not just about music. It’s about spending a relaxing, family-friendly few hours with friends and neighbors. A chance to catch up with each other, meet new friends and relax. For many, those opportunities are pretty rare.
Beginning Thursday and for three more Thursdays (June 27, July 11 and July 25), hundreds of folks will defy the summer heat to listen to music and enjoy each other’s company.
What’s not to like?
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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