Clearfield’s Corner Concert Series is Back
The Extra Miles, an acoustic folk trio, will be back in Lower Witmer Park in Clearfield to perform as part of the Corner Concert Series which happens, weather permitting, each Friday at 7:00 p.m. The concerts are all free, but donations are taken for local charities. This year the charity is LifeSpan Family Services’ Activities Program. (Photo from Corner Concert Series Facebook page)
By Julie Rae Rickard
CLEARFIELD – Local bands are lining up again to perform in the 2023 Corner Concert Series at Lower Witmer Park in Clearfield.
These free concerts feature “ultra-talented local musicians’ and occur on Friday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket on which to sit.
“Artists from all around central PA, playing many styles of music, have entertained the crowds throughout the years. The Corner Concert Series is celebrating 10 years of raising funds and awareness for many local charities while providing free entertainment for our community,” it says on their Facebook page.
Each year the events raise money for a specific charity. In 2023, the recipient of donations collected will be LifeSpan Family Services which provides adoption and foster care support, services and training throughout central PA. The concerts will be raising money specifically for the Activities Program.
“By providing necessary funding, LifeSpan expands these children’s social lives, school activities and family recreation opportunities as they strive to keep foster kids involved in baseball, football, soccer, gymnastics, ballet, etc. because foster kids deserve the same options as all kids”, it says in the post
“Fees and equipment for these activities can be expensive, so any amount of donations will go a long way in helping these families.
“The Corner Concert Series is proud to help support such a powerful and needed service that makes a real impact in the lives of children and families all over Clearfield County.
“With the help of many nightly sponsors and especially our season sponsor
SWISHER CONCRETE PRODUCTS, we hope to raise over $5000 for charity this year.”
Last year they raised almost $9,000 for “Boxes of Hope”, a group that supports breast cancer patients, according to their posts. In addition to the donations gathered, some of the bands donated their fees back to the charity.
This concert series began in 2012 as a fundraiser for the Ritz Theater which was in danger of closing at the time because the business did not have money to upgrade its equipment to digital technology.
At that time, the concerts were held in Shaw Park near the theater.
After the money was raised, the concerts continued as a favorite summertime event and featured a different charity each season.
The events were moved to Lower Witmer Park in 2020 to allow for social distancing. Sponsors were also added that year.
It is noted that there are a few nightly sponsor spots still available this summer for any small business or individuals who would like to give $100 toward this cause.
If you are interested, please contact Steve Albert through the Corner Concert Series Facebook page for more information.
“There will be many new and exciting things happening this summer at the Corner Concerts, so plan to attend every week, listen to good music and give to a great charity,” Albert said.
The first concert featured Brandon Guiffre on June 2. The upcoming schedule is as follows:
June 9 – JOE QUICK – Acoustic Country
June 16 – Riverfront Festival
June 23 – HEAVENBOUND – Christian Contemporary
June 30 – LONE CROW REBELLION – Blues Rock
July 7 – TEMPTATION ALLEY – Acoustic Classic Rock
July 14 – TWIN REVERB – Classic Rock Band
July 21 – SECOND CHANCE – Oldies and Elvis Tribute
July 28 – THE EXTRA MILES – Acoustic Trio
Aug 4 – QUEHANNA – Rock
Aug 11 – NOT ASHAMED – Christian Contemporary
Aug 18 – HELL BENT – Classic Heavy Metal
Aug 25 – HARDTACK – Rock
Sept 1 – INNOCENT SIN – Blues/R&B/Reggae
Sept 8 – HEATHER OLSON – Classic Country and Patsy Cline Tribute
The entertainment is dependant on the weather. If rain is expected, please check the Facebook page for cancellations.