Now that sunny skies have fully returned to northwest Missouri, it’s time for a song. Or two. Or 10.
The annual Parties on the Parkway series, hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and the City of St. Joseph, brings local and regional talent together with one of the area’s best parkway and greenspace areas. It’s a great example of how a community and its businesses can take time to stop and smell the roses – while promoting a positive sense of place at the same time.
Once a month from May to August, community members and guests can enjoy a different sound and a different view of the popular St. Joseph Parkway System through Parties on the Parkway. Music styles range from 80s hits to rock and country, with a little bit of everything in between. Food vendors and refreshments on-site create a mini-festival experience.
Like many cities, the outdoor concerts are a way to celebrate what’s special about the city’s parks and the community as a whole. The Parkway System is actually a 26-mile paved two-lane road that connects several parks and walking/biking paths from one end of the city to the other. The bands may be the main attraction, but the events are a carefully-planned way to showcase the city’s outdoor areas and bring neighbors and residents together. The effect lasts all year, with people sharing what’s great about the local music scene and the local parks, as well as providing a mix of outreach photos.
Each year, the concert series features a different theme with a logo on t-shirts, banners and more. The artwork ties in a touch of nature with the theme of music, and corporate sponsors are invited to leverage the events as a local marketing and PR resource. Social media helps share the laid-back, community-focused atmosphere.
Attending one of the events demonstrates how the elements of music, family, community, nature and business can come together and leave everyone with a full-on summer attitude. It’s a fun example of making the best of what’s around. Today, consider your own business or organization and what’s around you as a resource. Are there ways you can tie it all together in a creative and attention-getting way? At SJC Marketing, we certainly believe so – and we’re here to brainstorm and sing along right there beside you.
Parties on the Parkway events are free and last from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests can bring their own lawn chair or blanket.
Upcoming 2019 Parties on the Parkway Schedule:
On June 13, the band Oxymoron, at S.W. Parkway and 28th Street.
On July 11, the alternative band Greater Tomorrow, at S.W. Noyes and Messanie St., Parkway A.
On August 8, the county band Whiskey Band, at Corby Pond.
The final performance on September 19, will be by the classic rock band Swift Kik at the Remington Nature Center.