The yearly Concerts in the Park series got an early start in May and has a full summer lineup set for locations throughout Warren County, with the next show this Friday in Warrenton.Concerts in the Park is a program that has been entertaining communities in Warren County for more than a decade. The concerts are free to the public and feature musicians in a family-friendly setting. The location of the concerts rotates between Dyer Park in Warrenton, Diekroeger Park in Wright City, and City Park in Marthasville.Warren County Fine Arts Council organizes the concerts. Mike Shilharvey, Arts Council organizer, said the concerts can draw hundreds of people, depending on location.“We try to get different genres (of music). We’re always looking for different things,” Shilharvey said. “Of course, at every park you’re free to bring your own cooler with wine or beer.”Shilharvey said organizers try to have food and drinks available at the concerts, whether it’s from a concession stand or from the VFW fish fry right next to Dyer Park in Warrenton.Musicians performing at the parks include a mix of local talent and performers from the region. Several are returning favorites. New this year is “Paulosmallband,” a group led by Paul Ovaitt that recently has been playing at local wineries.The concerts are paid for by grants and support from the Missouri Arts Council, Shilharvey said. He added that the financial support for the free musical events is a direct result of turnout at the concerts.“If you want to continue to see these things, come to the concerts,” Shilharvey said. “The arts are an important fabric of the community. The main goal of the Arts Council is to keep arts in front of people’s minds, especially young people.”Besides Concerts in the Park, which is the Arts Council’s main attraction, Shilharvey said the group has brought other fine arts performances and provided programs at local schools in the past. The future will probably include closer work with other community organizations, and possibly concerts at a new park being developed in the city of Truesdale.The current partners that play host to the concerts are the city of Warrenton, the city of Wright City and the Marthasville Chamber of Commerce.Concert scheduleBelow are the dates and locations of this year’s Concerts in the Park performances. All concert times are from 7-9:30 p.m.• June 8 — Mike Apirion 3, Dyer Park in Warrenton.• June 15 — Rich Helton’s Circle of Friends, Diekroeger Park in Wright City.• June 22 — Shotgun Creek, City Park Pavilion in Marthasville.• July 13 — Nitty Gritty Old Dudes Band, Dyer Park in Warrenton.• July 20 — Melissa Neels Band, Diekroeger Park in Wright City.• July 27 — Schmitt & Grins, City Park Pavilion in Marthasville.• Aug. 10 — Paulosmallband, Dyer Park in Warrenton.• Aug. 17 — George Portz & Friends of Bluegrass, Diekroeger Park in Wright City.• Aug. 24 — Garden Party Band, City Park Pavilion in Marthasville.

Local musician Rich Helton leads one of nine musical groups that will entertains communities as part of the yearly Concerts in the Park series, organized by the Warren County Fine Arts Council. Pictured, Helton performs at a Memorial Day ceremony May 28, 2018. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins