Long Grove Live series sets fun tone for summer
Historic Long Grove recently kicked off Illinois' Phase 4 reopening plan with a successful outdoor pop-up movie and is continuing the summertime fun with Long Grove Live, an ongoing weekend concert series spread throughout four different areas downtown.
Presented by the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, the same group behind Chocolate Fest, Strawberry Fest and other notable festivals, the free music program Saturdays and Sundays now through the end of August symbolizes the return of Long Grove as a shopping and entertainment destination.
The Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association is following recommended state guidelines for Long Grove Live weekends, including social distancing, mask wearing and the implementation of hand sanitation stations.
"We've scaled down the large-format festival model we're used to putting on each year and spread it out throughout town each weekend this summer," said Jesse DeSoto, president of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association.
"The idea is to give people an exciting reason to come back to historic downtown Long Grove in lieu of the cancellation of this year's big fests because of the pandemic. We'd like to think that we are kind of like a mini Nashville starting out, and perhaps one day historic downtown Long Grove could be the Music City of Lake County."
The feel-good vibes play on from noon to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, with live music echoing through every corner of historic downtown Long Grove. People of any age are invited to stop into a boutique, restaurant or cafe, or simply wander the village and discover the musical genre that suits them best.
Whether it be country, rock, jazz or blues, music lovers can find varying original acts and cover bands.
The Long Grove Live family of talented musicians play on a rotation and include names like: Strawdawg, Colin Cimmarusti, Social Cue, Orlando Pena, The Corner Boys, James and Friends, Ken Kuhn (from Split Hook Band), E Man, Lori Lewis, Glen Murschel, Juhn Ludy, and Jack and Rachel.
The upcoming schedule can be found at longgrove.org/festivals/music or www.facebook.com/ShopDineLG.
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