The Music in the Mountains 44th SummerFest Concert Series is just around the corner and we want to let folks know the backstory about a change. After a lot of careful thought and input, we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we have to temporarily shelve our annual outdoor July 3rd “Happy Birthday USA” concert. This decision was not made lightly. It comes with a great deal of sadness for everyone in our Music in the Mountains family, including audience, performers, volunteers, staff, and board.
We know that this concert is not just an audience favorite. It has also become a beloved tradition for all of us as well.
There are several reasons for this decision. We have experienced multiple years of rising costs of stage equipment, insurance, and outdoor event space. We’ve also faced triple-digit heat and wildfire smoke and the associated risks to our musicians, patrons, and musical instruments. Thus we felt compelled to not present the July 3rd outdoor concert. Who knows what the future will bring? Perhaps one day we can bring it back in some form.
Tim Geckle, MIM Board President