There are two free concerts this week at Glass City Metropark. Plans continue for the park to become known as a venue featuring up-and-coming artists.
Wednesday – Sunny War will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the event lawn adjacent to the Pavilion. The recording artist who Rolling Stone called “one of the best new voices in roots music” has appeared on NPR, Kimmy Kimmel Live and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She is the first performer in a folk music series that will be held at various Metroparks this summer. Reservations are requested for planning purposes and can be made at MetroparksToledo.com, but tickets are not required. A new, voluntary “pay what you want” option has been added for the folk series this year.
Saturday, as part of a fireworks viewing party, The Commonheart, a Pittsburg band described as a “rock band with soul,” will perform at 8:30 p.m. at the event lawn and conclude the show in time for the City of Toledo fireworks display at 10 p.m. The energetic band has performed at many festivals, including headlining the Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green.
As part of the holiday fireworks event, The Garden Restaurant and roller-skating concession at nearby Market Hall will have extended hours until 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
The popular new water play area will also stay open an hour late until 9 p.m.
According to the city, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge will close at approximately 9 p.m. and a portion of Front Street from Main Street to Glass City’s main entrance at East Broadway will close about 9:45 p.m.
During that time, visitors are advised to use the Craig Street Bridge to access the park entrance on Front Street shared with the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
The largest parking lot in the park is at Market Hall, a short walk along the Maumee River from the event lawn.
Middlegrounds Metropark on the downtown side of the river closes at dark and will not be open for fireworks viewing.