Summer Concerts and Movies Return to Indy Parks

Warmer weather and sunnier days are a sign that summer is upon us. After a year of virtual learning and working from home, a lot of us are feeling the itch to get outside, stretch our legs and get a little bit closer to life as normal. Just in time for summer, Indy Parks is bringing back one of our favorite summer traditions: our Summer Concert and Movie Series!

From May through September, we’re bringing 60 shows to six parks across Indianapolis. Kick back to the sounds of jazz at Eagle Creek Park’s Beach, or dance around to alternative rock at Garfield Park’s MacAllister Amphitheater. Whatever your music style, we guarantee there’s something in this year’s lineup that the whole family will love. Several local artists are taking the stages this summer, including Joshua Powell, the Tiptonian and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. In addition to music, we’re also playing some family-favorite movies at Garfield Park this summer, including Moana and Aladdin (2019). It’s a perfect chance to shake up your usual family movie night routine and make some new memories.

One of the best parts about our Summer Concert and Movie Series: Most of the shows are free! Indy Parks is all about offering events and activities that all families can enjoy without spending a lot of money. Our local parks are offering hundreds of free and low-cost programs throughout the summer. For details on those activities and the full Summer Concert and Movie Series lineup, visit parks.indy.gov.

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In 2015, Bruce Kidd and co-founder Steve Neely decided to combine their love of live music and passion for nonprofits in Indiana.

Both on the board for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, they planned a small thank-you evening for supporters of the cause with live music, food and fun. That was the beginning of Concerts for a Cause, a nonprofit that supports other Indy-area nonprofits by putting on performances by national and local artists and musicians. Indy’s Child talked to Bruce Kidd to learn more about this organization.

“As we were leaving [the special event], Steve and I said ‘Maybe we could do this for other nonprofits,’” Kidd says. “I’ve been on several of those boards with really good people, working hard for other people that need help in our community. Financially, they struggle every year.”

The two set to work, securing entertainment, food donations and sponsorships for their first pilot concert. They picked a nonprofit, The Indy Thunder, invited their network of friends and waited to see what would happen.

“We didn’t know how many people would show up, but it worked,” Kidd says. “We were able to raise $7,500 for this group of adults who are blind or seriously sight impaired, and participate in a national league called a beep baseball team.”

“We do four concerts per year,” Kidd says. “That first year, Steve and I did everything. We contacted caterers, had a local company donate beer and wine, and found different artists across the country. These are really cool, fun, talented people, and once you connect with one, they suggest someone they know and it gets pretty easy to find entertainment.”

Sponsors cover the artists fee, food, drink and other supplies needed, and the total ticket sales go directly to the non-profit of the evening.

“I want these concerts to feel like a concert in your living room,” Kidd says. “If you’re in the last row, you’re still only 25 feet from the stage.”

“We introduce a local Indy artist to open the show. We then ask the non-profit executive director to talk about the organization and we present them with a check. Then we bring on the main artist of the evening. At the first concert, we raised $7,500, and that’s grown now to $20,000 to $25,000 going to the non-profit.” With 15 concerts under their belt, Concerts for a Cause has donated $250,000 to 15 different nonprofit organizations in Indianapolis.

“I’ve been here my whole life, and this is a very compassionate community,” Kidd says. “The whole idea is ‘How many lives can we touch through this donation?’ We have people coming to support their favorite non-profit, others are just looking for a good evening of entertainment, some know the artist of the evening and most believe in what we’re doing here.”

“We’re doing as many outdoor concerts as possible so we can spread out, wear masks and take all sanitation precautions. I finally decided I’m going to pick a date and we’ll see what happens. The first concert is June 25, and we have four scheduled for this year, including August 27, September 25 and November 5.”

Concerts for a Cause will celebrate its five-year anniversary at the November concert, with three national artists and three children’s non-profits.

Visit indyconcertsforacause.org for concert updates and scheduled venues. Tickets are currently on sale for the June concert.