A laid-back Sunday concert will bring hundreds to a historic Fort Wayne farm. 

Concert on the Farm will feature an afternoon of music at Salomon Farm Park on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 1:30-7 p.m. 

Gates open at 1 p.m. to get a jump on food trucks, face painting, and an exploration of the massive property nestled on Dupont Road.

Check out the grounds

In a recent interview with Whatzup, DeAnna Harris, the park’s lead program coordinator, said the vibe is different from a typical concert because of the atmosphere the farm provides and the free-roam nature.

“You see the historic barn and you’re just taken back,” she said. “It’s just absolutely gorgeous. And then you have the ability to walk around and see the pigs and the Highland cows and the goats, and we have the garden.

“So, it’s all-encompassing, as far as an outdoor, natural environment.”

Music for all tastes

Harris, who has been working at the farm for Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation since 2020, said this year’s lineup features the return of The Hubie Ashcraft Band, as well as Americana-folk trio Rosalind & the Way. She also expressed excitement about the addition of newcomers Sunny Taylor & Paul Kobylensky, saying they would work to deliver a variety of country music that has “a good spin on it.”

The local 7-piece string collective, Debutants, will also make their return to Salomon Farm Park after having released their latest album, River on the Moon, in January.

With limited seating in the barn, concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to listen to the performances, or they can roam and discover the offerings of this park. 

Returning for more

At just $5 per person, this six-hour experience packs a lot of bang for the buck, and many concertgoers have returned year after year.

“When they come in, they’ll say, ‘This is my seventh time coming, and it gets better and better each year,’ ” Davis said. “So, that’s a nice compliment to hear.”

Hungry attendees can purchase picnic-style pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, and mac and cheese catered by Shigs n’ Pit, enjoy popcorn, and get their face painted at this all-ages, family friendly affair. Adult beverages will also be available for purchase.

‘Hidden gem’

Established as a family farm in the 19th century, Salomon Farm was incorporated into the city park system in the 1990s. 

The park maintains numerous educational opportunities to encounter life on the farm, and the “free roam” nature of Concert on the Farm affords concertgoers a taste of this experience. For those who want to bring a piece of this experience home with them, sunflowers and dahlia blooms grown at the farm will be available for purchase.

Outside of the concert, Harris said people can come out to this “hidden gem” to enjoy the trails, visit animals, and even toss a Frisbee around. 

Concert on the Farm also gives people in the growing northern suburbs of Fort Wayne an opportunity to engage with their fellow community members and experience their shared local history. 

Harris said people moving to Fort Wayne, and even those who have lived in the city several years, oftentimes do not know that Salomon Farm Park exists until they happen to encounter it at events like Concert on the Farm.

“They don’t know that there’s the working farm that’s going on, and they don’t know that they can visit it. But with these kinds of events, it brings more light to what we have back here.” 

Harris emphasized Salomon Farm Park offers numerous programs throughout the year, including a Pick Your Own Flowers, a Wednesday farmers market, and several pop-up events that allow people to “step away from their suburban home and walk into a farm setting.”

As for Harris, she looks forward to watching people enjoy the music and camaraderie at this annual event. 

“I just love seeing the smiling faces of the attendees, they really do enjoy it,” she said. “And I like watching them dance … And I have a little place in my heart to watch an elderly couple get up and just start boogieing up there.”