Free outdoor concert series planned in downtown Wooster

The first concert of Wayne Center for the Arts’ Levitt AMP Wooster Music Series will be held May 27 on the front lawn at 237 S. Walnut St. in downtown Wooster.

All concerts are free and open to the public. Lawns open at 5 p.m., and concerts begin at 6 p.m. Attendees can bring lawn chairs or blankets. Picnics and nonalcoholic drinks are encouraged, and there will be food trucks and activities.

Parking is available behind Wayne Center for the Arts and in downtown lots. Guests are asked not to use the United Way/Catholic Charities parking lot, which is reserved for their clients.

Last year was a pilot program for WCA hosting Wednesday concerts with startup funds from the Ohio Arts Council. Tiffany Leeper, WCA development director, said that after learning about the Levitt Family Foundation grant program, they applied and made it to the public voting round. WCA was ultimately selected as one of 63 sites in the country.

“We were so overwhelmed and grateful for the community’s support during public voting for the grant,” said Sara Brink, WCA executive director. “Wooster showed up, and that enthusiasm helped us to land among the top locations in the nation to gain this funding.”

WCA is still looking for sponsors at all levels for the program and will be collecting donations at the events to help offset production, marketing and safety costs. Funds from the Levitt Family Foundation compensate the artists. For sponsorship information, email Tiffany@WayneArtsCenter.org. Follow WCA on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the events.

The series presenting sponsor is Wooster Color Point, and the lodging partner (housing the travelling musicians) is Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Center of Wooster.

“We are so grateful to the City of Wooster for providing the stage,” said Leeper. “Other supporters will be concert presenters and activity sponsors and will be announced at the concert.”

The 2026 Levitt AMP Wooster Music Series lineup includes:

—Sons of Mystro, performing violin arrangements of popular music from multiple genres, May 27.

—Tabitha Meeks, performing retro pop with piano-driven melodies, June 10.

—Heather Redman & the Reputation, performing garage rock with indie influences, June 24.

—The Often Herd, performing bluegrass music with transatlantic influences, July 8.

—Spirit of the Bear, blending rock, pop and electronic influences, July 22.

—Brett Newski & the Bad Inventions, performing alt-country and ’90s rock-inspired music, Aug. 5.

—Tartan Terrors, performing Celtic music, humor and stepdance, Aug. 19.