Residents and visitors will have their music soul unleashed and satisfied this summer in Cape Charles, Virginia. Citizens for Central Park, Arts Enter Cape Charles and the Town of Cape Charles have teamed up to offer an amazing collection of bands throughout the summer. The concerts are free and being presented outdoors at Cape Charles Central Park and indoors at the Historic Palace Theatre.
Located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay at the southern tip of the Delmarva peninsula, Cape Charles continues its amazing transformation, recapturing its 1880s glory days when the railroad gave birth to this post-Victorian beauty. B&Bs, a boutique hotel, and house/resort rentals make staying here a pleasure. There are unique shops in the downtown area, and dining includes waterfront restaurants, a Viennese-inspired coffee house, Irish pub, old-fashioned soda fountain, and more. The Art Deco Historic Palace Theatre spotlights local, regional, and national talent.
The Festival is not just a one weekend event, but rather an offering of one or more concerts on 10 of the 11 weekends from July 1st to September 9th. The outdoor concerts in Central Park will go on rain or shine, as we have the option of moving the concert inside the Historic Palace Theatre if we have inclement weather. So, whether you are a resident of Delmarva’s Eastern Shore or planning to visit Cape Charles this concert series is a can’t miss itinerary for the summer.
This is the only free multiple concert program on the Virginia Eastern Shore, and it includes musical groups that will be attractive to all age groups and cultures. Concerts in the Park have evolved over the last three years with this year’s offerings being the most comprehensive since its inception. Kicking off the Summer Festival schedule the first weekend of July are the bands Raw Beets at the Historic Palace Theatre and Little Country in Central Park. They each have a unique style of music that are labeled as the must see/hear bands of the summer. Other bands performing Saturday evenings in Central Park during July are Orquesta Tropikiimba, J and the Band and Andrew McKnight & Beyond Borders. The Summer Festival will conclude in September with performances by the Delmarvalous Dolls over Labor Day weekend and the US Navy Jazz Band the following weekend.
What’s the perfect recipe for a wonderful night of FREE music and fellowship? Grab a few chairs or blanket, pack a picnic dinner and bring a little cash to enjoy some refreshments provided by the Citizens for Central Park committee. Invite your neighbors, bring the kids or grandkids, sit back and enjoy the summer breezes on the grounds of the beautiful central park lawn.
For those concerts at the Palace Theatre, you can skip packing the chairs and blanket and try out some of the great restaurants on Mason Avenue in Cape Charles. If you haven’t been to Cape Charles in a while there are a few new scrumptious spots to check out like Deadrise Pies and Gourmet Alley, which are conveniently located close to the theatre. Local tip: Schedule your trip to Brown Dog Ice Cream BEFORE the concert, it’s a must do when visiting the quaint historic town Cape Charles, just ask Trip Advisor who ranked it in their Top Ten Ice Cream parlors in the United States!
The Harbor for the Arts Summer Festival is sponsored by Citizens for Central Park, Arts Enter Cape Charles and the Town of Cape Charles with support from the following: Virginia. Org, ESVA Tourism, County of Northampton, Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and Bay Storage.
For more information about the Festival, follow along on the Festival Facebook page or Festival Website.
