The final chapter of the Central Park Bandshell being built

An interesting day today, to say the least. The electricians showed up early to double-check the power (remember that the bandshell had not been fully tested up to this point) and install the sound equipment. People also showed up early to set up their lawn chairs and then went home again. It must be an unwritten rule that a lawn chair is a legally binding stake claim.

Promptly at 3:30 the ceremonies began, which was the official opening of the Bandshell. The Jones Family Foundation was thanked for their generous donation to the City of Red Wing. This really is an amazing gift; this is akin to having a second Sheldon Theatre, except it is an outdoor venue.

Rosanne Cash

Several Fiddler on the Roof selections were sung (a teaser for an upcoming production) and Rosanne Cash and her husband came out and performed for about 90 minutes. It was a straightforward performance, very professional and simple (two guitars). Just a class act. Then Roomful of Blues picked up the tempo for the next 90 minutes. The skies cleared (it was spitting rain on occasion) and the Sheldon Brass Band took the stage and played mostly some traditional John Philip Sousa music.

Sheldon Brass Band

It was the final score, which was Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, that something truly remarkable happened. Right at the crescendo, right at the peak of the music, cannons began firing off explosions and all the church bells in town started ringing. Red Wing has a lot of church bells and between the Brass Band, the cannons and the church bells, it was a very moving experience. Several people started spontaneously crying and it is hard not to get choked up thinking about it now. The Sheldon Theatre deserves a ton of credit for making this an amazing day in Red Wing history.

It has been fun charting the progress of the newest neighbor in our neighborhood. But now it is time to move on to other curious topics.