Fun Family Summer: Getting Down, Downtown

Last Friday night, my family and I needed to get out – outside, that is. Lest anyone forgets, this was the end of a very hot week, and having our regular outdoor activities limited because of the heat left us feeling a little cooped up. 

So, we made our way to the in downtown Farmington for Friday night's Rhythmz in concert. A small rain shower came through early in the evening that refreshed the air just enough to leave us feeling cooled off, relatively speaking.

The day was hectic and dinner at home eluded us, so we stopped by  to grab a picnic in time for the concert. The Riley Park performances are always well-attended, but never so crowded that you have to arrive too far in advance. We got to Riley Park at 6:45 p.m. and had no problem finding an open spot.

After saying hello to a few familiar faces, we settled into our lawn chairs with sandwiches in hand and waited for the concert to start. 

We were in for a treat: The BackBeats were playing. My husband and I have told our two sons about the Beatles, and they've heard some of their music, but we were looking forward to their reaction to The BackBeats, who pay tribute to the Beatles by dressing like them, talking like them, and, of course, singing like them.

When they started, my husband asked our younger son if he liked the music. 

In a classic 6-year-old move, he responded, "Yeah, but Dad, they don't sound like a beetle at all."

Fortunately, the sound of The BackBeats wasn't lost on him after all, or the rest of the crowd, for that matter. Before long, a good number of people were dancing in front of the band, while others were moving to the beat in their chairs or singing along. It seemed to me we weren't the only ones that were happy to be out that night.

The rain clouds gave way to sunshine, but the temperature stayed comfortable. It wound up being a perfect night for an outdoor concert. 

I'm glad the Riley Park concert season is only half over. The evening was just what the doctor ordered, and you never know when I might need a second dose. 

If you go

Dagwood's Deli is located on Grand River in downtown Farmington next to Sundquist Pavillion. There are plenty of other options for carry-out convenient to Riley Park, including , and . For dessert close by, try , or .

Rhythmz in Riley Park concerts begin at 7 p.m. every Friday through Aug. 26. For a schedule, visit downtownfarmington.org.