Summer fun in Southwest Michigan means outdoor activities for the whole family: music festivals, sidewalk sales, farmers markets! During these sunshine-filled months, find yourself in Niles to explore many exciting events, including their Summer Concert Series and Free Friday Movies in the Park, thanks to the hard work and generosity of Niles Music And More.
The Niles Summer Concert Series began in 2018, and is a program of Niles Music & More that focuses on bringing musical events to Riverfront Park in Niles, and supports local businesses while providing outdoor entertainment. Each concert in the series acts as a fundraiser for other non-profit organizations in Niles, and each season, thousands of dollars are donated directly to these groups by concert goers and supporters of local music. The first free concert of the season takes place the weekend of June 10th, during the Rock the River Summer Kick-Off Event.
Friday, June 10th welcomes Katmandu, the top Bob Seger Tribute Band in Michigan, from 6pm – 8pm, and Saturday, June 11th offers four bands from 1pm – 8:30pm: The Toona’s, The Erly, Hey Annie, and Tim Dudley. Paul Erdman takes the stage on Sunday, June 12th at 6 pm, and will help concert goers celebrate the beginning of Summer, as well as the beginning of another season of concerts at the Riverfront Amphitheater.
The next fourteen weeks will feature concerts every Sunday (after June 12th) starting at 6pm, and the amphitheater is located in Riverfront Park on Front Street, between Main and Sycamore Street on the water. Bring a chair or blanket, and your dancing shoes!
Free Friday Movies in the Park will begin on June 24th and run through August 5th, with films playing at dusk. The outdoor screen will be set up behind Wonderland Cinema, located at 402 Front Street, with plenty of yard space for your friends and family to lay out their beach blankets. The Free Friday Movies in the Park are only free to the public thanks to the generous local businesses in Niles that have chosen to sponsor this event. Brown Funeral Home, Niles Vision Clinic, MI Realty Tammy Anders, Niles Riverfront Optimists, Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe, CK Home Group Realtor Cathie Waggoner, Millin Automotive, Niles Precision, and the Niles DDA Chamber of Commerce have each paid for the licensing fees required to show the movies.
The 2022 film schedule is:
June 24 – Grease
July 8 – Encanto
July 15 – The Wizard of Oz
July 22 – The Lego Movie
July 29 – Back to the Future
August 5 – Lost And Found
August 12 — Jumanji
August 19 — Cars
August 26 — TBA
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
