Concert organizers envision fun, profit

By summer, the time will be right for dancing in the streets - and shopping in the stores, officials say.

By CHASE SQUIRES

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2000

DADE CITY -- By summer, downtown may be ready to get down.

Downtown Dade City Main Street is planning its first monthly run of downtown street dances for July, August and September.

Organizers hope the concerts will not only bring in out-of-town visitors, but also make life a little more enjoyable for residents during the long, hot summer.

Gail Hamilton, Main Street's executive director, said the new City Sounds concert series is planned for the third Saturday of each month, beginning about 7 p.m. She said the plan is to encourage merchants to stay open a little later, then start up the music as the shops close.

The series is in its earliest stages, and bands and sponsors are still to be lined up, but Hamilton said she is encouraged by support she has already heard from Main Street members.

While the series will fill an events gap during the slowest, and hottest, time of the year, Hamilton said the goal is not just to stimulate sales. Instead, she said, the emphasis will be on inviting residents to come out and enjoy a summer night, meet their neighbors and have a good time.

"It's not all about making the cash register ring," she said. "It builds communities when we all get together and enjoy ourselves. It's a quality of life issue."

Downtown merchant Peggy Capps, who runs Antiques on the Main Street and is active in the merchants association, said she loves the idea.

"It's nice that it starts at seven;that way we can get out there too," she said.

Capps said she has heard of other cities that have evening summertime concerts and they sound like fun.

Hamilton said non-profit groups are invited to contact her about setting up a crafts or food concession.

Hamilton said there are no plans to ask the city to allow beer sales at any of the concerts.

For the events, Hamilton said,city workers have volunteered to turn an old flatbed truck trailer into a portable stage that folds up for storage. The stage, she said, will be lit professionally and provide an ample area for bands to set up.

During the shows, Hamilton said, she hopes to have Meridian Avenue closed in front of the old courthouse and invite visitors to set up lawn chairs.

Hamilton said she would like to hear from any person or business interested in sponsoring a concert and said if the series is well received, it could be extended into the fall and winter months.

For sponsorship information, Hamilton can be reached at the Main Street office, (352) 567-0284.

"We want this to be not just for visitors, we wanted this to be something to do for the residents," Hamilton said. "They don't have to go to Tampa for a night out. They can come downtown, have dinner, listen to the music and walk home. It's a nice, feel-good event."

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