Party in the Park organizers gear up for 2024 festival

Jul. 15—Party in the Park is set to return to Painesville Square July 19-21.

Described by organizers as "Ohio's largest free outdoor music festival," the three-day party will include live music acts, food and drink vendors, family activities and more. Event co-chair Pam Morse said that this year's festival will also bring new vendors, new music acts and a tour of Lake Erie College's new Tower student residences on the square.

"We have a great partnership with some of our city folks and our Lake County Visitors Bureau, so we are looking forward to a wonderful year," Morse said.

The festival layout will be changed this year compared to previous years because of an ongoing construction project on the square. Morse said that the festival's beer area will be moved, and many food vendors will be on the square's park.

She said that new music acts this year will include Celtic rock and roll band Marys Lane and Queen Tribute band An Evening with Queen.

The party's website states that it will feature more than 30 local and national acts "including rock, reggae, jazz, funk, pop, indie, folk, rock-a-billy, country, classic rock, jam bands, Latin, soul, bluegrass and more."

A full lineup of musical acts can be found on the festival's webpage at painesvilleimprovement.com. The first act starts at noon each day and the last one starts at 10 p.m.

Morse said that new food and drink options this year will include the Tornado Potatoes, Aurelia's Sweets and Treats and the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck, which was featured on TV series Shark Tank.

She added that the park's VIP tent will offer Latino food on Friday, Italian food on Saturday and Asian food on Sunday. The tent will open at 4 p.m. each day, and visitors can receive a discount by purchasing a three-day pass or a pass for a table of eight on the party website.

The event will also include around 50 tent vendors and a family fun zone, Morse said. Two area churches will also lead music and a service on Sunday morning, with Painesville's New Hope Baptist Church leading from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and Painesville Township's Grand River Baptist Church leading from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Visitors will also be able to take guided tours of "The Tower," the new Lake Erie College student housing center located at the corner of South Park Place and Liberty Street. A college news release said that the former bank building now includes apartments, common areas, a fitness center and a rooftop terrace.

Party organizers said in a Facebook post that parking will be available in front of the Lake County Jobs and Family Services Building at 177 Main St., at the city parking lot at 66 S. St. Clair St., on the former Lake East Hospital site on East Washington Street and at the Sterling Avenue lot between Sterling Avenue and West Washington Street.

It added that Liberty Street may be restricted to southbound traffic only due to an ongoing construction project.

Last year's party brought more than 50,000 visitors and was "back to full swing" compared to the past few years, even with a rain day, Morse said.

She added that the funds raised from the event support the activities of the Painesville Community Improvement Corporation, which supports Concord Township, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Painesville City and Painesville Township.

Morse said that the organization has supported projects like the new Painesville City dog park, beautification projects, butterfly gardens, and a YMCA program to teach swim safety to second graders in the Painesville City and Fairport school districts, with hopes to expand to more school districts in the future.

She also thanked the party volunteers and sponsors.

"Come and enjoy the park and support Northeast Ohio," Morse said.

Originally Published: July 15, 2024 at 2:38 p.m.