I have a couple of nostaligic memories of Franklin Park in Bloomington (I grew up in Normal). When I was in high school, my mom, a nurse, worked at a doctor’s office nearby. In the summer, we would frequently meet for lunch in the park.
As a younger kid, she used to take me to see these band concerts in the park, offered by the Community Concert Band. It’s a band that is a collection of community members, that know how to play an instrument and want to play in a band. A friend’s dad, who also happened to be my dentist, played piccolo and oboe in the band. An aside: They also had a harp and a harpsichord and all sorts of cool instruments at their house. He was a multi-talented dentist.
I just noticed that this is still a thing that is happening! I don’t know if my former dentist still plays in it, but I’m sure it’s still fun to listen to. Franklin Park is an old park, in a historic neighborhood, that has similar vibes to Carle Park in Urbana. They have three more concerts this summer: July 13th, 20th, and 27th at 7 p.m. Franklin Park is not far from Downtown Bloomington, that has several great restaurant options.
Free Franklin Park Concerts
302 E. Chestnut
Bloomington
July 13th, 20th, 27th
7 p.m.