The Harrisburg University Concert Series may have come to an end, but the Dauphin County Live Concert Series is just beginning.
The new series looks very familiar to the old one, with concerts at Riverfront Park in Harrisburg and some of the same staff running the events.
And the first of the county’s new concerts took place on July 29, with Russell Dickerson headlining an evening of country music.
Many things were familiar for past audiences of the Riverfront Park concerts, such as a line of food trucks and a small crowd of boats and passengers gathered on the nearby Susquehanna River.
But some things were new, such as a policy that allowed audience members to bring their own folding lawn chairs to sit in the rear area of the park.
Dickerson, known for Country Billboard chart-topping songs such as “Blue Tacoma,” “Every Little Thing” and “Yours,” hit the stage with a Hulk Hogan pose and a “let’s get ready to Russel” announcement.
His high-energy set began with “Honey,” and he soon had the crowd clapping along with his animated stage presence.
And despite the heat and humidity, the outdoor concert was packed with an enthusiastic crowd ready to enjoy the show.
Angela and Matt McDonald don’t often come to Harrisburg, they said, unless it’s to see one of the Riverfront Park shows.
“They’re fun, I enjoy them,” Matt said, adding that they will often visit a Harrisburg restaurant like Cork & Fork beforehand.
“I love the idea,” said Kylie Early, who also drove in from Palmyra. “I saw it on Facebook, and I see that they do a little series every summer. This was the first concert I could actually make it to. I think it’s very convenient and a good location.”
While Early is a regular visitor to Harrisburg, she noted that she brought along some guests who don’t often find their way to the city.
Jeff Roecker, who lives in Harrisburg, said that he’s seen several shows along the riverfront, and that people should come check it out if they haven’t.
“It’s a nice venue, down here by the river,” he said.
And bringing in those visitors is exactly the plan, according to Dauphin County commissioner Justin Douglas.
“We just want to thank you for being here,” Douglas said as he introduced opening act Austin Williams. “Thank you for coming out and celebrating.”
Douglas told the crowd that he and the other commissioners “really value tourism in our region.”
“One of the things that we’re able to do is send money to events like this, that allow us to bring in national artists right here to Dauphin County,” he said. “Your attendance, you being here right now, allows us to keep this going.”
If the crowd for this show was any indication, then the concert series may well continue for some time.
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