The rain and decidedly un-summerlike weather has put a serious crimp in the Arts in the Parks summer concert series, but organizers hope to resume the Oak Park performances as soon as is practical.
Terri Aldrich, executive director for the Minot Area Council of the Arts, said Tuesday that the International Brass Quintet performance, initially set for today, will be canceled, and that the Sunday "pops" concert by the Minot City Band could be rescheduled in the face of the expected deluge on the Souris River.
The International Brass Quintet, she said, is a group of faculty members from the International Music Camp, and they were only available for this week for the Arts in the Parks performance, but the Minot City Band has two more performances scheduled and could reschedule Sunday's concert appearance.
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Terry J. Aman/MDN - - Terri Aldrich, executive director for the Minot Area Council of the Arts, presents “Petunia,” one of the Arts in the Parks flowers.
The arts council organizes the series, and scheduled the Nodakords to perform June 30. Aldrich said that concert could also be rescheduled depending on conditions in Oak Park.
Alongside the concert performances are displays by visual artists, and Aldrich said every effort would be made to include the works by Judith Hovde, Kathleen Cunningham and Rita Doering in some future Arts in the Parks event.
Arts in the Parks events are often redirected to the Maysa Arena in the event of inclement weather, but the space is required to address evacuation and displacement.
Jazz Fest
Weather also had an impact on last weekend's activities. Aldrich gave a final report on the fourth annual Integrity Jazz Fest.
The daylong Roosevelt Park event drew some 500 people altogether, she said, despite a late afternoon rain that moved the headliner performance by the Four Freshmen to the Vegas Motel.
Aldrich said that she was actually on stage performing with the Gentle Winds Orchestra when the rain started, so she was able to simply announce directly that they would be moving the show.
Immediately, she said, a number of audience members volunteered to help move lighting and sound equipment and helped them get set up at the Vegas.
"They moved all that equipment and set up the sound and it was just so incredible," she said. "The place was packed. It was absolutely packed and people had a fabulous time."
"It turned out beautifully," she added. "And the show itself was knock-your-socks-off great."