Concerts in the Park are returning … virtually!
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Popular concert series will feature tribute bands
The City of Vaughan’s 26th annual Vaughan Celebrates Concerts in the Park will kick off later this month, but with a twist – they will be online this year. Originally planned to take place over the summer, the events were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series will run at vaughan.ca/concerts for five Wednesdays from Oct. 21 until Nov. 18.
The City of Vaughan’s 26th annual Vaughan Celebrates Concerts in the Park will kick off later this month, but with a twist – they will be online this year. Originally planned to take place over the summer, the events were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series will run at vaughan.ca/concerts for five Wednesdays from Oct. 21 until Nov. 18.
Featuring professional entertainment for all ages with genres like R&B, funk, rock and pop, this year’s schedule is as follows:
- Wednesday, Oct. 21: Epic Eagles
- Wednesday, Oct. 28: Queen Flash – a tribute to Queen
- Wednesday, Nov. 4: All Journey
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Chart Toppers Tour featuring tributes to Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift
- Wednesday, Nov. 18: Beach Party Boys – a tribute to the Beach Boys
Hosting Concerts in the Park virtually will allow Vaughan residents to mark this popular and much-anticipated event safely from the comfort of their homes. Concerts will be pre-recorded and streamed online starting at 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. at vaughan.ca/concerts.
QUOTE
“The City of Vaughan is a proud supporter of artistic and cultural initiatives that educate, inspire and contribute to our vibrant community. We are committed to helping develop and encourage local talent to enhance our cultural identity. The City’s award-winning annual Concerts in the Park series is a community celebration of music and talent. I am pleased that this much-anticipated event is proceeding virtually this year as we continue to adhere to physical distancing protocols. It is an opportunity for people in Vaughan and beyond to enjoy free professional entertainment from the comfort of home. We have an outstanding lineup of performers this season, and I want to thank them for sharing their talents during these unprecedented times. Now more than ever, we must come together in spirit to celebrate what makes Vaughan the place to be. Enjoy the shows!”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
QUICK FACTS
- On Saturday, March 14, the City closed all community centres and library branches in response to COVID-19. The closure also extended to events, all community centre permits/rentals, recreational programming, swimming pools, arenas and fitness facilities as well as the City Playhouse Theatre.
- On Tuesday, March 17, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua formally declared a state of emergency in Vaughan, making it the first city in Ontario to do so. The state of emergency remains in place.
- On Wednesday, March 18, Vaughan City Hall and all remaining City facilities closed to the public.
- On Saturday, March 21, the City advised the public to avoid any public playgrounds and other high-touch surfaces in parks as they are not sanitized. Signs were installed in all parks with playgrounds throughout the community directing residents to stay off the equipment.
- On Wednesday, March 25, the City closed all remaining facilities within City parks to the public as a further precautionary measure. This included sports fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, the dog park and any other amenities.
- On Thursday, May 14, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua announced the City had chosen to keep park facilities closed to keep the community safe and healthy despite the provincial government allowing for some facilities to reopen.
- On Friday, June 12, the City reopened public tennis courts, skateboard parks, the dog park and parking lots.
- On Friday, June 19, the City reopened a number of additional park facilities, including picnic tables, benches, soccer fields and ball diamonds (excluding premium and artificial), and basketball and bocce courts.
- On Friday, June 26, the City reopened splashpads and public washrooms.
- On Friday, July 24, playgrounds reopened in Vaughan.
- On Monday, Aug. 10, Vaughan Fitness Centres reopened at reduced hours and capacity.
- On Monday, Aug. 17, select in-person fitness classes resumed.
- On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Maple, North Thornhill and Vellore Village pools reopened for recreational and length swimming and aquafitness classes by appointment. Vaughan Fitness Centre hours were extended to full days. Vaughan Public Libraries reopened three of its resource branches – Bathurst Clark Resource Library, Civic Centre Resource Library and Pierre Berton Resource Library – with regular hours, amended services and safety procedures in place.
- On Monday, Sept. 14, Al Palladini, Father E. Bulfon and Garnet A. Williams community centre pools reopened for recreational and length swimming and aquafitness classes by appointment.
- On Monday, Sept. 21, Chancellor, Dufferin Clark and Woodbridge pools reopened for recreational and length swimming and aquafitness classes by appointment.
- On Monday, Sept. 28, registration opened for virtual fall recreation programming.
- On Tuesday, Oct. 14, virtual fall recreation programming began.
- On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the City will host its first virtual Concerts in the Park series.
- Other City facilities – including Vaughan City Hall, the Joint Operations Centre and the City Playhouse Theatre – remain closed to the public until further notice.
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