Summer in Downtown Appleton is filled with shopping at local retailers, outdoor dining and of course, so many events! Summer is only a few weeks away, and members of the community are already looking forward to getting outside and enjoying events and activities all summer long. Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI) is excited to bring back a variety of great events this summer including the Heid Music Summer Concert Series, Lunchtime Live on the Road, Downtown Appleton Farm Market and the Downtown Creates Series.
“Summer in Downtown Appleton is truly about bringing people together” says Jennifer Stephany, Executive Director of Appleton Downtown, “We are excited to bring everyone together through a variety of great events all summer long.”
More details about each of our events this summer can be found below.
Heid Music Summer Concert Series
U.S. Venture proudly presents the Heid Music Summer Concert Series, one of our most popular events throughout the year. Kicking off at Jones Park on Thursday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m., this year’s lineup is the best it’s ever been. Bringing back fan favorites like Glam Band, Boogie and the Yo-Yo’z, and Grand Union there is a great variety of music that anyone can jam out to. There are six new bands added to the lineup this year as well including the return of Boxkar, who will be leading off the series on June 1, with Avenue 55.
The full lineup for the Heid Music Summer Concert Series:
June 1: Boxkar and Avenue 55
June 8: Road Trip
June 15: American Platinum
June 22: The Dweebs
June 29: Ask Your Mother
July 5: Grand Union
July 13: Feed the Dog
July 27: Mistrial
August 3: Mile of Music – Announcement coming soon!
August 17: Unity The Band
August 24: Johnny Wad
August 31: Star Six Nine
Lunchtime Live on the Road
Visit a new outdoor patio every Friday in Downtown Appleton for this great series presented by U.S. Venture. Community members can enjoy a different live solo or duo act over the lunch hour 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. starting on June 2 through August 25. We are bringing back community favorites including Adam Lee and Lilie. Grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee while listening to some great live music during the lunch hour all summer long.
The full lineup for Lunchtime Live on the Road:
June 2: Adam Lee at D2 Sports Pub
June 9: Barefoot Americans at ACOCA Coffee
June 23: Vegan Punk Brigade at McGuinness
June 30: Lilie at Stone Arch Brewpub
July 7: Jedidiah at Appleton Beer Factory
July 14: Tom Winch at Fratello’s Waterfront Restaurant
July 21: Hannah Rose at Bazil’s Pub
July 28: Love, Light & Harmony at Copper Rock Coffee
August 4: Mile of Music
August 11: TJ & Lynn at Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill
August 18: TAE at Rookie’s Sports Bar & Grill
August 25: Jenna Kopitske at Spats
Downtown Appleton Farm Market
Another popular event in the community, the Downtown Appleton Farm Market presented by U.S. Venture, is back but this year, it’s starting earlier than normal. Typically, the Farm Market would begin the third weekend in June, starting the Saturday after the Flag Day parade on Saturday, June 3. This year we were able to partner with the City of Appleton and the Flag Day Parade committee to help coordinate having the Farm Market the same day as the parade. This allows us to start the Farm Market the first weekend of June, which has been requested by some members of the community and Farm Market vendors for many years.
Carissa Hackel, Event Director at Appleton Downtown is already gearing up for the season. “I’m looking forward to another great summer with the community’s favorite vendors that have been away for a few years, and brand-new vendors! Starting the event two weeks earlier on June 3, will be a great change for our vendors and the community.”
You can expect all the great things that you love at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market, including food and produce vendors, arts and craft vendors, nonprofit programming, musicians and more.
More information about participating vendors will be available on our website soon.
Downtown Creates Series
A three-part, outdoor series of events will take place on the third weekend of each month, starting June through August. Each event will feature creative experiences with Downtown businesses, artists, restaurants and more. Each month’s activities will vary and bring something new and exciting for the community to enjoy and express their creative freedom.
The Downtown Creates Series will continue all summer long with the following features:
- June 17: Make Music Night, in partnership with Heid Music during Street Music Week,
experience street performers up and down College Avenue and other music experiences for the
community to enjoy - July 15: Chalk Walk, an annual chalk art competition where the sidewalks of College Avenue are
decorated with one-of-a-kind chalk creations by local artists and the community - August 19: Be You… A Night to Create, a brand-new theme to the Downtown Creates Series, this
event will allow patrons to come and do hands-on activities at different creation stations along
the sidewalks and in Houdini Plaza.
Sandy Storch, Events Coordinator, and lead on the Downtown Creates Series is ready to kick off another summer filled with creativity and fun open-air activities for anyone to enjoy. “The Downtown Creates Series allows anyone in the community to come and create art.”
For more information about any of our events this summer, contact Abby Novak of Appleton Downtown, Inc. at [email protected]
ADI is a non-profit advocacy source for the businesses and merchants of Downtown Appleton, presenting the Downtown Appleton Farm Market and many other events. For more information about ADI and/or a complete listing of upcoming Downtown happenings, visit ADI’s website, www.appletondowntown.org, or check them out on Facebook at the Appleton Downtown or Downtown Appleton Farm Market Fan Pages.
