One of summer’s most anticipated highlights is Rock the Plaza, an event that has brought people downtown every Saturday night for more than a decade of summers.
Featuring both local and regional bands, the evening, which is spent sitting on the plaza of the Allen County Public Library’s main branch enjoying the summer air and the fantastic music, has become one of the most popular events in Fort Wayne.
Another excellent summer is planned, and the schedule for this year’s lineup has just been announced.
The schedule includes:
June 8: Gregg Bender, El Camino Hot Tub, and Grateful Groove.
June 15: Gaucho, Marnee, Monarch, and Dave Todoran & the Mobile Home Wreckers.
June 22: Frog Hollow, Todd Staszak, the Kickbacks, and Unlikely Alibi.
June 29: Uncle Muscle, Adam Strack, Morning After, and The Band Brother.
July 6: PlumDingo, Basketcase, Three Cities, and Exterminate All Rational Thought.
July 13: Big Jaw, Chilly Addams, Daily Driver, and Country Heart.
July 20: APQ Harmonic, Phil’s Family Lizard, Sunny Taylor Band, and Moser Woods.
July 27: Bending Mercury, Craig Guy, the Humanity, and Walkin Papers.
Aug. 3: 906 Band, Susan Mae & the New Yesterday, Kerosec, and Jon Durnell Band.
Aug. 10: Mojo Rising, Insta Gators, Bonsai, and Joey O Band.
Aug. 17: Bad Hombre, Brian Lemert, Damon Mitchell, and URB.
Aug. 24: OLC, Paul Stephens, Secret Mezzanine, and Pop N Fresh.
Come for all of the bands (which begin playing at 6 p.m.) or come when you can.
It’s a night that is sure to please every single week.
BicyclEs and art
In 2014, the Kickstart Festival began as a one-day celebration of bicycles and art.
That first year was when the growing love of bicycling in Fort Wayne was paid tribute with the “Art with a Purpose” campaign that put many cycling posts throughout the city in the forms of sculptures that both provided beauty and a practical place to chain up a bike.
That event has now grown to include a month’s worth of activities that will continue into June.
Those activities have already included the Ronald McDonald House Charities presents the Ride RMHC bicycle touring event starting at Kreager Park and the grand opening celebration for the summer-long Trek the Trails series at the Barn at Eagle Marsh, hosted by the City of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Trails.
But many more activities are yet to come. On May 8, Fort Wayne Community Schools will celebrate National Bike to School Day at Price Elementary.
On May 12, Bicycle Friendly Fort Wayne will present Cyclofemme, a touring ride celebrating and supporting women and cycling, starting from Tillman Park.
On May 18, Fort Wayne Youtheatre will present Rapunzel at the Arts United Center, a day which previously had served as the official kickoff of Kickstart and brings many people to the downtown arts campus.
On June 1 the Eighth Annual Fort4Fitness Spring Cycle tour will begin on Main Street on the Arts United campus and will include a post-race celebration with food, drink, and live entertainment in downtown Fort Wayne.
Later that day, Le Tour de Fort will take to the streets for the 12th annual tour of Fort Wayne’s finest establishments, all to support services for disabled veterans.
There’s nothing better than an excuse to jump on your bike and enjoy all of what Fort Wayne has to offer.
News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.
