MANSFIELD – The first of five concerts in the 10th annual Final Friday Concert series drew a strong crowd to the Brickyard to kick off Memorial Day weekend.
The concerts, featuring local musicians, have steadily grown since they first began a decade ago.
“The first few years there were 20 to 50 people, most of which were family member, either our family members or the band’s, but we saw a turning point probably in 2012,” said Jamie Thompson, chief development officer at Downtown Mansfield, Inc. (DMI).
From that point there’s been a steady increase in concert attendance. Now, the shows average 5,000 people in attendance. The largest crowd last summer was about 10,000.
“After this long, we don’t have it down to a science, but pretty close,” Thompson said. “We have a great crew and great staff in place, and it runs like a fine oiled machine at this point.”
May’s concert started with a performance by Kelly Vaughn at 5 p.m. followed by Acoustic Edge at 6:15 p.m.
Monica Robins & The Ninja Cowboys took the stage at 8:15 p.m. to finish off the evening.
Greg Gault from Ashland County was at the concert celebrating his 62nd birthday with his wife, Beth and neighbors, Kim and Tom Mollenauer. He was enjoying “friends and wine,” in that order.
Mansfield’s Donna and Terry Gilmore of Mansfield describe themselves as “veterans” of the concerts. They come for the music and the food.
“We are always looking for something to different to do,” Donna Gilmore said.
Cassie Parson brought her daughter, Katja to the concert for the first time.
“We love it,” Parson said, taking a short break from dancing with Katja. “It’s nice that it’s family friendly.”
She and her family lived in Germany for a short time, and these concerts remind her of the street festivals she attended there.
Other children like Harper Blanton-White, daughter of Laura Blanton and Krystle White, were providing entertainment between bands. They were dancing in front of the stage. Blanton said it was her first time at Final Friday.
It was also the first Final Friday for 6-year-old Ella Harding and her younger brother, Miles. Their grandmother, Pat Harding, brought them.
The next Final Friday Concert will take place June 30. It will include performances by Ricky Mitchell, Gringo Stew and the Jimmy Warner Band.
The July 28 concert will feature Luther Trammell, the Jeffrey Boyd Quartet and Alter Ego. On Aug. 25, performances include Jai Merina, the Jimi Vincent Band and the Red Ball Jets.
The final edition of “Final Friday” takes place Sept. 29. It will feature Chase Beaire, 45 Spider and Third Degree Sideburn.
