MANSFIELD, Ohio — Downtown Mansfield, Inc. will hold a “bonus” Final Friday Concert Sept. 25 from 5-10 p.m. at the Brickyard in downtown Mansfield in celebration of the new stage.
Bassgasm, the Jimi Vincent Band and Red Ball Jets will break in the new stage that evening as the featured acts.
Refreshments will be provided by various vendors including Blackbird Bakery, Altered Eats, Slab Daddy’s and Dave’s Dogs. Blue Box Photo Booth will also be present, as well as Salem Octo, a fire-eater, and Liederkranz Dancers.
Additionally, winners of the Spirit of Downtown Awards will be announced during the concert. These awards celebrate exceptional accomplishments in the ongoing investment in downtown Mansfield. Votes may submitted here through Sept. 18.
Admission to the concert is free and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair.
The Final Friday Concert Series typically ends in August, but DMI leaders wanted to add an extra show this year to make use of the new stage.
Adena Corporation broke ground for the stage Aug. 12 and is still in the process of constructing it. The stage is being built at the base of the Brickyard, adjacent to the Phoenix Brewing Company.
The stage’s design was created by Seckel Group Architects.
Funding for the stage has come from various private donors in the local community.
The stage is one phase of a three-year project that is meant it to help establish downtown as a social center. In addition to constructing a new stage, DMI plans on purchasing and cleaning up the Tiny Tim Shoppe building at 128 N. Main St. to be used for a variety of purposes (pop-up retail, wedding showers, etc.). DMI intends to move its office to the building, which will also house public restrooms, coolers and a bar.
“We’re looking at $400,000 for the entire project,” DMI Director Jennifer Kime said previously. “We will build each project out as we hit those fundraising goals.”
DMI is still raising funds for the project. To donate, go to https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/dzW31.
“We’re really excited and appreciative of the community’s response,” Kime said.
She’s looking forward to yet another great show for the last Final Friday Concert of the season.
“I feel like a broken record when I say they’re always our biggest shows, but our shows in August are generally smaller…and last month’s show was our biggest one yet,” she said.
The turnout for each concert this year has “blown us away,” she said. “It’s just gotten larger and larger and I think that really speaks to how things like this and place-making can really help transform a community.”
