Downtown Milford, Inc. is pleased to embark upon a new partnership with Milford Public Library. MPL approached DMI concerning their summer concert series titled “Music in the Park”. This partnership will allow for “Music in the Park” to be held the second and fourth Wednesdays of June, July, and August; thereby doubling the number of performances offered in 2006. DMI is responsible for the sponsorship of the two concerts in August and marketing endeavors.
While DMI has worked with local and regional live entertainment performances through our Annual Bug & Bud Festival and Holiday Stroll events, this is our first venture into an ongoing event that is truly focused only on the arts. In addition to bringing quality entertainment to the racially and socio-economically diverse Milford population, the “Music in the Park” series will also allow us to showcase downtown’s attributes which include a picturesque amphitheatre, Riverwalk and park areas, and a variety of unique shopping and dining options.
Each concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last for the duration of one hour without an intermission. They are held just outside of the Milford Public Library which is centrally located in downtown along the Mispillion Riverwalk. The library’s amphitheatre is the perfect setting for individuals to bring chairs or blankets and truly enjoy an evening of quality entertainment. Local businesses are invited to participate by staying open during the later hours on concert days and offering specials to attendees. In case of inclement weather, the concerts can be held inside the Library’s Meeting Room which easily accommodates 100-150 people.
June will feature Andrus Family Singers on the 20th and Downtown Dixieland Band on the 27th. Performances in July will feature a steel band duo playing calypso, reggae, and soca music on the 11th and lyric soprano and guitarist duo on the 25th.
This August, we have invited jazz and gospel saxophonist, Mark Mitchell to perform on the 8th. Mark is originally from Philadelphia and is currently a saxophone instructor and administrator at the Mount Airy Culture Center. We are thrilled to welcome him to Milford just prior to his August 31st performance at the Tony Williams Jazz Festival over Labor Day weekend. The second performance to be held on August 22nd will offer Barbara Benedett from Philadelphia and her chamber group featuring clarinet and piano. Barbara’s show will feature pops and light classical tunes which are sure to delight the varied group of downtown visitors.
DMI’s partnership with MPL will allow the “Music in the Park” series to be much more visible than any one group going at it alone. This program is made possible, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. The Delaware Division of the Arts provides technical and financial assistance to artists and arts programs and serves as a clearinghouse for information on the arts.
Downtown Milford, Inc. will hold their monthly Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, July 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Milford Public Library Meeting Room. Items on the agenda for that night include reports from Facade & Structural Improvements, Farmers' Market, and Street Beautification committee chairs. Also, up for discussion is DMI's participation in the 2007 Chamber of Commerce Riverwalk Freedom Festival and 2008 Downtown Milford, Inc. House Tour.
For over six months, Downtown Milford, Inc. business members have been working together to advertise as a group on a weekly basis. This most recent group advertising campaign is run through two local newspapers: Milford Chronicle and Harrington News Journal. Business members of Downtown Milford, Inc. are eligible for a special rate when advertising in these papers. Each individual ad is 4" x 2" and printed in full process color.
