Bicentennial Park Concerts on Hill To Resume Thursday In Joliet

JOLIET, IL - For the first Concert on the Hill at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, attendees will need to make reservations and will be sitting on the new polka-dot hill.

In an ordinary year, the Concerts on the Hill at Bicentennial Park would have started in June. But 2020 is not ordinary year.

“We started a month later, we usually start in June,” Deanna Opsahl, Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theater Park Office Assistant said. “We are still limited. We can’t have people sitting close to each other, that hill out there is going to be our polka-dot hill.”

Bicentennial Park will mark areas of the hill with giant polka-dots where individuals and familys who have reserved a spot have a place they can sit and enjoy the free concert and still maintain social distancing.

The Park is being careful to keep patrons safe during Coronavirus.

“Each of our circles are going to be 6 feet apart,” Opsahl said.

Normally, the American Legion Band would open the Concerts on the Hill season and would also close it. Unfortunately, they will not be able to perform this year.

“They’ve been advised not to perform,” Opsahl said of the requirements that limit the number of wind instruments in a performance.

The American Legion Band is usually the best-attended concert during the yearly Concert on the Hill series. In addition to being socially distanced and being encouraged to make reservations to attend, this year, snacks are also limited.

“We’re closing our kitchen, so unfortunately, you don’t get to have our Billy Dogs,” Opsahl said.

The park will be serving popcorn and will have cocktails available for purchase.

In the coming weeks, Opsahl said they are hoping to have a food truck on site during the Concerts on the Hill.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., July 2, the Rat Pack Swooners will perform. The duo is made up of Matt Persicketti and Mike Eulitz. Both men have been on the Bicentennial Park stage before, with Eulitz performing twice in the role of God for two different productions. They will be followed by Just Us, a duo of Cheryl Foster and Jim Chuporak, who perform music from the 1940s to today.

To reserve a spot on the hill, call 815-724-3761. Masks are required and attendees are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages.