Greenwood summer concert series kicks off today

Greenwood’s annual summer concert series kicks off today, but attendees should expect a few changes to allow for social distancing.

Nearly every Saturday evening from July through September, Greenwood residents and visitors can gather downtown with lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to enjoy a night of live performances at the Greenwood Amphitheater.

But this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, how many attend each event will be limited. Concertgoers will be given a color-coded wristband when they arrive at the amphitheater, and that wristband will match a certain section in the grass where they have to sit. 

Each zone has its own color—red, blue, green or purple—and its own capacity ranging from 100 to 500 guests per area, depending on the space. The red zone is closest to the stage and purple is the furthest. Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive at the amphitheater early when the gates open at 5:30 p.m., if they want to choose a specific zone to sit in, said Rob Taggart, director of the city’s parks and recreation department. The dance floor in front of the stage will be closed as well. 

Total capacity inside the venue will be capped at 1,215. Parks department employees will monitor social distancing during the concerts. Masks are not required, but strongly recommended, Taggart said.

"We’re going to discourage people from gathering too closely … but those capacity numbers in those zones are there for a reason to allow for social distancing," he said.

During past concert seasons, each event had roughly 1,000 to 2,000 in attendance, so capping it at just more than 1,000 should not be an issue, Taggart said. He does not know what the turnout will look like for the concerts this year, but the department still wanted to take as many precautions as possible, he said. 

"The consumer behavior is totally different during these times so we certainly wanted to take measures to make sure there was an opportunity for patrons to practice social distancing," Taggart said.

The band Tastes Like Chicken will take the stage at 7 p.m. tonight.

For the most part, Greenwood residents seem excited to have the concert series return this summer, Taggart said. 

"Most of the feedback is positive on social media; I think people are excited," he said. "We are making an effort to do this, and we have put these measures in place."

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Greenwood 2020 Summer Concert Series

Event information

Band: Tastes Like Chicken

When: 7 p.m. today; gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Greenwood Amphitheater, 300 S. Washington St.

New precautions

Capacity: 1,215

Attendees will be assigned to color-coded zones upon arrival. Each zone has its own capacity to allow people to space out. 

• Red Zone: 250
• Blue Zone: 170
• Green Zone: 540
• Purple Zone: 255

The dance floor in front of the stage will be closed.

Masks are not required but strongly recommended.

Source: Greenwood Parks and Recreation

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Today – Tastes Like Chicken

July 18 – Toy Factory

July 25 – Hairbanger’s Ball

Aug. 1 – The Doo

Aug. 8 – 45 RPM

Aug. 29 – Parrots of the Caribbean

Sept. 5 – Blue River Band

Sept. 12 – X-Generation

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