Hundreds Hit the Park For Debut of Summer Concert Series

For more than two decades summer hasn't been summer in Harrison without warm evenings of live music in local parks.

That tradition continued Wednesday with the debut of this year's summer concert series. Local band Reunion entertained a few hundred locals with favorites from the '60s, '70s and '80s on a beautiful evening at Ma Riis Park.

"The crowds are usually nice," said Ron Belmont, who works in an advisory position with the recreation department and helped setup the event. "Everybody's friends and neighbors are here, it's really Americano."

The summer concerts are held on Wednesday and Thursday nights either downtown or in West Harrison. They are held free of charge and provide anyone in town with the opportunity to lay out a blanket and enjoy an evening of live music. The events are usually a hit with senior citizens and families with young children.

"You feel young again, we're senior citizens and you want to feel like teenagers," said Marie LaRusso, who said she has been coming to the summer concerts since they started in the late '80s. "At the end of the night we get up and dance."

Reunion has played the opening night of the concert series for years. The band, which has 10 members, has been playing together on and off since the late '60s and has mostly local members. After years of playing full-time the group now enjoys the night as a chance to get up on stage and play in front of familiar faces.

"Forty years ago there were tons of places to play, they don't have those venues anymore," said Joe Marcone, who plays keyboard for the band. "The people always appreciate us here, all the time."

On Thursday the concert series will continue in West Harrison with a performance from The Wanderers. Shows will be held on Thursdays in West Harrison and Wednesdays downtown this summer, a switch from last year because it fits better with the recreation department schedule and meshes better with local businesses. 

The evening's events usually provide a jump to area businesses, from local restaurants to the ice cream truck parked nearby.

"You'll find people throw down a blanket, go and get a pizza, in West Harrison there's Chinese food as well, so it helps all of that," said Belmont.

But most importantly, each evening is a chance for neighbors to get out of the house, see each other and enjoy the summer weather—all without spending a dime.

"The price is right," joked Veronica Roscia, a regular at the summer performances. "We enjoy it."

Harrison's summer concert series will continue every week until the end of August,  for a full schedule of performances.