Preparations for Opening Day

The Zanesville Memorial Concert band is ready to sound the horn on its summer concert series.

The band will play its first performance of the season Sunday at Zane’s Landing Park. The band’s artistic director, Jeff Roquemore, said a live, in the park performance, shines light on an aging form of entertainment.

“We just think it’s almost a maybe forgotten tradition,” Roquemore said. “Bands were always in communities. There wasn’t TV and all the media that people can get their enjoyment from. What they used to do is go down to the park in the gazebo and listen to a band, and we want to carry out that tradition.”

It’s a tradition that will continue into its 93rd season of free concerts in the park. Weather permitting, all but one of the concerts will be in Zane’s Landing Park. The only exception is a concert at Secrest Auditorium on July 5.

“We have five concerts this season,” Roquemore said. “All of our concerts are Sunday evenings starting at 7:00. Most of them are at Zane’s Landing Park, an outdoor concert.”

All concerts start at 7:00 p.m. Roquemore said anyone can come down to the banks of the Muskingum River with a blanket or chair. He said it’s a place where anyone can enjoy a great family atmosphere.