PORT TOWNSEND — The last breeze of summer mingled with the sounds of rock, soul, Motown and the blues last week as the Concerts on the Dock music series wrapped up for the season.
Perennial local favorite Kevin Mason pulled together his PT All Stars and performed the final show of the series. The popular weekly event attracts more than 400 people Thursday afternoons throughout the summer.
Mari Mullen, executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, said the free shows have been held at the Cotton Building Plaza for the past six years.
“They were originally coordinated by the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce and we adopted them in 2011, and co-sponsored with the chamber that year, then took them on fully in 2012,” Mullen said.
She said this was a good year for music, despite the Water Street demolition and reconstruction; she said the downtown work did not seem to keep people from attending the shows.
In an effort to go green, the Port Townsend Main Street Program board voted to replace single use plastic cups with stainless steel beer cups and pottery wine cup rentals.
Pottery cups were provided by local pottery studio LaughinGnome. An attendee could rent a cup for a $5 deposit, which was refunded on its return. Mullen said the organization plans to continue the program in its coming seasons of the concerts.
Additionally, the program was recognized for its ecological spirit.
“We won the 2018 Sustainability Award from the Washington State Main Street Program for The Greening of Concerts on the Dock at the Revitalize Main Street Conference held in April in Port Townsend,” Mullen said.
Mullen said the series of eight concerts throughout July and August are a true collaboration with the community.
“We couldn’t do these free, all-ages outdoor shows without the generous support of our business sponsors and community partners.”
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
