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Van Rensselaer to kick off 23rd season of ParkFest
The 23rd season of ParkFest, conducted by the Greencastle Civic League, is set to kick off on Tuesday, May 30 with the music of Mike Van Rensselaer.
The event is set to take place at 6:30 p.m. at Shelter No. 1 at Robe-Ann Park.
The season opens with family night, which includes the kid-friendly set of folk tunes from Van Rensselaer. As always for his Parkfest performances, the retired Greencastle Middle School teacher will invite youngsters to join him in singing a children’s song.
Not only that, but the evening will include bounce houses from Big Bounce Fun House Rentals and brick oven pizza from Anthony’s New York Style Pizzeria.
Van Rensselaer has entertained audiences of all ages for 50 years with his singing and storytelling.
From the Putnam County Playhouse stage with lead roles in “West Side Story” and “Kiss Me Kate,” to Deer Meadow Primary School classrooms with traditional folk music renditions, he has brought a wide range of characters to life in the roles he has adopted.
Since his last Parkfest performance, the versatile musician has taught David Gellman’s DePauw history students how to work the ropes, capstan and windlass of a clipper ship while singing sea shanties; joined in multiple spirited Celtic music celebrations surrounding St. Patrick’s Day; and set Bette Killion’s and John Baughman’s “The Ballad of Asbury Towers” to music, sharing it with the facility’s residents during his monthly sing-along session.
Van Rensselaer will bring his banjo and guitar to Robe-Ann Park to sing an eclectic set of songs springing anywhere from Mississippi River docks to Broadway stages.
Other upcoming ParkFest performers include Gus Moon and Him and Her on June 6, Blues Side Up on June 13 and Corey Leiter and Saturday Shoes on June 20.
With the new Robe-Ann bandshell in the planning stages, this season’s musicians will play in Shelter No. 1, with the audience seated downhill from the performers.