Summer concert series kicking off at Millersburg Amphitheater

With the Millersburg Amphitheater now complete and ready to host events, it’s time to fill the new amphitheater on Glen Drive with the sound of music and food.

That is ready soon with the upcoming summer concert series at the Timothy Baker Amphitheater.

“I am excited to share the upcoming summer concert series at the amphitheater in Millersburg,” said Heidi Barbey, organizer. “We are supported by the Village of Millersburg and the Holmes Center for the Arts.”

The series will take place the first Saturday of each month from June through October. The slate of entertainment consists of four bands and four food trucks, with performances running from 6-8 p.m., weather permitting.

The concert series includes the following (performer and food truck):

—June 6: Jonny Shedron, Best Spudz.

—July 4: Barbey said they are currently seeking both a performer and a food truck.

—Aug. 1: Mental Mystics, Buster’s Pizza Pies, sponsored by Tina Owens Realty.

—Sept. 5: Low Gap, Holy Lederhosen.

—Oct. 3: Homeland Country Band, Buster’s Pizza Pies.

Barbey said they are currently seeking sponsors for three of the four bands and would appreciate both those interested in sponsoring and anyone willing to spread the word. The Holmes Center for the Arts is serving as the nonprofit sponsor for this event.

If interested in sponsoring a band or contributing to the series, email Barbey at hbarbey@gmail.com or call 330-763-0122. All funds are nonrefundable. In the event of a weather-related cancellation, contributions will be applied to next year’s series.

The amphitheater holds a special place in Barbey’s heart because it was her daughter Brenna who built it as her Eagle Scout project a couple years ago.

It has seen some use, but Barbey said it is time to ramp up the usage of the amphitheater.

"Brenna’s whole idea was because she wanted to have a venue where young adults would be interested in coming and seeing art and hearing music and concerts,” Barbey said. “She wanted to give young adults some incentive to move to Holmes County.”

The amphitheater has hosted a couple of concerts including one that saw a trio of bands and several food trucks highlight the day, but the goals is to ensure greater use of the area, and the summer concert series concept came to light.

Barbey said Brenna came up with the initial idea of a summer concert series, and she wholeheartedly agreed and sought a nonprofit partnership that developed with her connection with the HCA.

That association allows anyone donating to the summer concert series to use the donation as a write-off for tax purposes.

Barbey said while each concert carries a specific price tag in terms of funding, any donation to help cover the cost of the concerts is appreciated, and donations don’t have to cover the cost of the entire evening’s events.