The Methuen 300 party planners have one more major event for residents of all ages to get into the celebration.
On Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, the Celebrating Methuen 300 Festival promises a family-friendly atmosphere with popular live music on the stage in Nicholson Stadium. From 3-6pm on both days, kids can enjoy bouncy houses, yard games, face-painting and balloon art. Also at that time, food trucks will serve up various styles of cuisine while community groups serving Methuen residents share information and involvement opportunities.
In recognition of Juneteenth, the Rico Barr Band with JJR Horns will kick things off, followed by a multi-cultural lineup of music, represented by Movimiento Pro-Cultura. On Friday, these groups will bring a mix of jazz, soul, blues and Latin rhythms to the festival. Residents may recognize the AB Jazz Band, who played at Nevins Library last fall. In addition, Tom Duda will perform classic rock and older cover music.
The schedule, as of MethuenLife press time, is:
3:15 and 4:45pm – Rico Barr Band with JJR Horns.
4:15pm – Singer/guitarist Tom Duda.
6pm – Chuck Gabriel’s Standards Quartet.
7pm – Anibal Cruz &The Blue Island Project.
8pm – AB Jazz Band, led by Anthony Bernabel.
The music shifts gears Saturday, June 20 with other local bands taking the stage. Hitting the stage at 5:30pm is Hill House, a Boston funk-pop band known for turning any room into a dance floor. Then at 7pm, it’s Best Not Broken, a rock band twice nominated for the New England Music Awards.
Admission is free. The festival will be held at Nicholson Stadium at 49 Pleasant View St.
Several spots are still open for local meal and dessert food trucks and community groups to set up booths. Go to methuen300.org/events. Click on the Festival and choose the option that applies. Please describe what you are offering for the committee’s review. Keep up with the festival as it evolves: facebook.com/Methuen300.
Blue Island Project is one of many bands performing June 19 and 20 at Nicholson Stadium, as part of the Celebrating Methuen 300 Festival. Courtesy photo
