
3 minute read
ROCK ON, HAPPY VALLEY!
Amid stage lights, amps, and laughter echoing from the nearby splash pad, the community gets a front row seat to some of the best musical acts in town as Concerts in the Valley enters its 25th season this year.

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Coordinated by Happy Valley Parks and Recreation, the City’s multi-week performance series at Happy Valley Park is a staple to summertime living. Families and friends gather each Thursday night as bands take to the stage to offer live musical entertainment. With food and beverage vendors on site and local businesses showing support for the events by way of sponsorships, the experience provides a comprehensive evening of music and fun for the entire family.
The Early Days
The summer of 1998 was one for the record books when Summer Concerts in the Valley debuted. Linda Sasson, a resident serving on what is now the Parks Advisory Committee, saw a need to bring the community together and wanted to help create a fun event. She spearheaded the concerts and helped secure vendors and funding for those initial bands. “I wanted to do something positive for the community,” she says. “It was a lot of hard work, of course, but it was a good time.” In those initial years, the event consisted of a mixture of amateur artists sharing their music with the help of some amps and a microphone. Small groups of residents gathered for the shows, which were first held near picnic area A of Happy Valley Park. It was a low-key affair, with little ones in strollers and attendees swaying along to the tunes. Before the popularity of food carts, actual ovens were simply plugged in to cook Papa Murphy’s signature take and bake pies.
Fast Forward
With increasing attendance as the years went on and more bands looking to get a spot in the lineup, the City was faced with reworking the series to accommodate the growing interest. Local businesses began partnering with the City via a formal sponsorship program, which helped expand entertainment options in a more streamlined way. “The foundation set by Linda Sasson and the other residents that helped pioneer summer concerts is something to be commended,” says Community Services Director, Steve Campbell. “Those efforts set the tone and laid the groundwork for what this event is today. As the event has grown and more businesses have stepped up, I think there is an even greater shared ownership of the series itself.”
Today, genres ranging from country, pop, blues, classic rock, 80’s funk, and Latin Jazz offer concert goers a variety of sounds to groove to as residents, neighbors, and friends celebrate the season and reconnect under the sun.


More Than A Melody
In addition to musical performances, kids and teens attending summer concerts can now check out the Happy Zone, a fun-filled activity space that offers crafts, games, and action-packed excitement. Seeing a need to provide everyone in the family opportunity to enjoy the evening, the Happy Valley Parks and Recreation team introduced this space to provide rotating activities throughout the series, so there is always something for the kids to do.
Additionally, intermission becomes a show within a show as audience participants take part in fun contests and dance-offs, sponsors raffle prizes, and local talent take the stage to keep everyone entertained.
TURN UP THE VOLUME! INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
Local businesses are at the heart of Happy Valley and concerts are the perfect place to see and be seen. With sponsorships, events like Summer Concerts are catapulted to new heights and can generate new experiences for attendees as businesses join the action and connect with residents and visitors. Community events are by far the most notable way our community gathers and sponsorships provide a way for our residents to engage directly with some of the city’s most happening businesses around town. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Stephani Hern at stephanih@happyvalleyor.gov today!
Plan to join us for the 25th anniversary of Concerts in the Valley which offers free, professional entertainment for all ages. Concerts begin July 13! Be sure to follow Happy Valley Parks and Recreation on Facebook when this year’s musical line up is unveiled. Concerts are festival-style seating, so attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the tunes. Food and beverage, including beer and wine, are available for purchase on site.
