The 50th annual Rose Tree Summer Festival concluded on Sunday, August 10, with a stellar concert featuring the Six-String Soldiers, an ensemble of the U.S. Army Field Band and one of the most popular military bands in the world.
The show began with an inspiring introduction by Delaware County’s Director of Military & Veterans Affairs, COL Arthur L. Jenkins, Jr., a patriotic presentation of the colors by Media VFW Post 3460, followed by a flawless performance of the national anthem by Staff Sgt. Megan Haskell.
The band then dazzled the audience with an irresistible set that made multiple generations smile and sing along. The soldiers’ rendition of the Eagles’ chart-topping hit “Take It Easy” set the tone like a subliminal musical command and got the crowd on board for a fantastic tour of America’s best pop, rock-n-roll, and country music.
Find out what's happening in Mediafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“What an incredible finale for Rose Tree’s 50th concert season!” said Delaware County Parks and Recreation Interim Director, Anne Stauffer. “After a stormy and steamy summer, we were thankful to end on a high note, so to speak, with a week of enthusiastic crowds enjoying excellent entertainment under beautiful evening skies.”
The beloved concert series in Rose Tree Park’s scenic amphitheater opened on June 11 and ran for nine-weeks, with 44 scheduled shows for the public to enjoy admission-free. The festival is presented by Delaware County, produced by its Parks & Recreation Department, and supported by private patrons.
Find out what's happening in Mediafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The variety of entertainment ranged from Big Band to Bluegrass, Classical to Cajun, and beyond. There were children’s concerts; community orchestras; tribute bands, such as Tupelo Honey (Van Morisson) and Live Wire (AC/DC); and specialty acts, such as Eco del Sur, a band of Andean and Latin American folk musicians.
Outstanding festival newcomers like The Discoteks and Gilligan Yacht Rock made a groovy debut splash, and fans flocked to see their perennial favorites, including The Fabulous Greaseband, Class of ‘84, Jimmy & the Parrots, and the Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars, a renown local performing group that also celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
“We all enjoyed the synchronicity of the Rose Tree Summer Festival turning 50 at the same time as the Shooting Stars,” noted Stauffer.
“Our programs have a lot of shared history that began when creative visionaries started them back in 1975. As Delaware County celebrated the nation’s Bicentennial, could anyone have imagined that it would endure for generations and still be going strong at the Semiquincentennial?”
Rose Tree Summer Festival Staffers added a Note: That fun tongue-twister word above is a hint that we are already thinking about next year’s concert series and looking forward to being a part of the America250 celebrations. Stay tuned.
Rose Tree Park is located at 1671 N. Providence Rd, Media, Pa, 19063. For more information, please visit Delaware County Parks & Recreation or call 610-891-4455.
