Sweets sounds of summer

The sun was on its way down and kids were screaming at the playground. The wind carried the smell of hotdogs through the crowd. The fourth session of the city’s “Music in the Park” series was the evening of Thursday, August 22.

Performing on stage was the band Generation Gap, a duo of Rod Scheitel and Carter Quast, who are grandfather and grandson. A banner with ‘Music in the Park Series’ written in big letters waved in the breeze behind them. Ariana Aguilar, Miss Janesville 2024, elegantly dressed and wearing a sash and tiara, took a few minutes to enjoy her dinner at the picnic table near the stage before she returned to mingling and taking photographs with people in the crowd. Everyone looked like they were happy.

Kendra Hoehn and Mark Schultz, who will celebrate the fifth anniversary of owning Brew’d Awakenings Bistro in September, manned a table at the edge of the park selling drinks and Dilly Bars. Hoehn and Schultz also own the Dairy Queen in Janesville; they have also owned Infinity Catering & Shuttle for the past 7 years. Schultz said he was happy to provide his services to the festivities, “It’s a community event and we’re helping when we can.”

Hoehn and Schultz said aside from a weather cancellation and reschedule from June 27 to July 11, and a band cancellation on July 25, everything else has been great. Even though the band ATA, (Another Time Around) canceled, that open spot was quickly filled by the band High Strung, out of Mankato. High Strung plays the 60s, 70s and many other cover songs.  Schultz reported the Janesville Music in the Park series this summer has been a big hit with more people showing up at each event as the summer went on.

Paul and Shelly Voges, 28-year residents of Janesville, organized the events. The couple says they love live music and have a very musical family of six children. They pointed to the Wiste’s food truck and said, “Ryan with Wiste’s has been just amazing.” They admit the series has gone so much better than they thought it would. Said Paul, “The city council has been very supportive. We plan on expanding on this even more next year. Keeping everything here local helps make it that much easier.” Also a feature of the evenings has been a school supply drive and collecting donations for the Janesville Food Shelf, which received $500 because of these events.  

Anyone who missed the former Music in the Park events can catch the next one on Sept 19. The band Family Tradition will be performing country music, both old and new, with some rock and pop mixed in. There may be a sixth Music in the Park event in the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Janesville, but that date hasn’t been set yet. The Voges recommend that folks watch the Janesville Facebook page for any updates  or cancellations.