Ricky Skaggs - Miamisburg Bicentennial

 On Wednesday (May 20, 2018) Tom and I attended the Ricky Skaggs concert which was a highlight of the Miamisburg Bicentennial celebration. I remember attending the Sesquicentennial in 1968 where I got to shake Governor Jim Rhodes hand at Library Park.

 We parked at my cousin's house, Sue Baker, on Buckeye Street and walked the quarter mile or so to Riverfront Park. I figured parking would be a real problem (it wasn't nearly as bad I expected). The Bicentennial expected as many as 40,000 people to attend various events.

 At the north end of Riverfront Park there were amusement rides and various vendors.

 Tom and I stopped at Miss Molly's food truck.

 We opted for something light: just potato salad and two Cokes.

 We ate at the picnic tables beneath a tent. Good thing, too, as a quick storm arrived just before the concert was to begin at 8 pm. After we ate we stood beneath a tree with umbrellas open. There was no lightning.

 Looking south, Tom said the scene reminded him of a Ku Klux Klan rally. Most everyone was wearing plastic rain coats (modified trash bags, actually) that were provided by the Kettering Health Network. The concert was also sponsored by that group.

 The rain lasted perhaps twenty minutes and the concert was delayed until 8:15 pm. Microphones were covered with plastic while it rained (so, too, the large speakers) and the stage area had to have water swept away before the performers arrived.

 Ricky Skaggs (center) did a bang-up job with that mandolin. I doubt there's better Bluegrass played anywhere. For more information on Skaggs, click here.

 While we were listening to the concert we talked with Don and Joan Boyer. Don is my uncle Charlie's brother.

 The concert area was wall-to-wall people. Many brought their own folding chairs. There was barely room to walk from one side to the other.

 The event was recorded and the concert presented on a large screen TV. The view was better on the TV than in person.

 We stayed until about 9:15 pm and then began walking back to my car.

 Miamisburg's Market Square Building was particularly pretty in the late evening light. When I was a kid, my Aunt Mary Masters operated her Mary Ann Shop there.

 It was a fine evening of entertainment. The Miamisburg Bicentennial Celebration took place the entire week of June 16 - 23.