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75,000 pack into Memorial Park for '80s jams, fireworks and a whole lotta fun
from: omaha.com
by Natasha Rausch / World-Herald staff writer
"She's the one who sings 'I Love Rock 'N Roll,' right?" Liz Orrick said to her friend Carmella Briganti as they sat waiting for JOAN JETT to take the stage.
They had been waiting for hours Friday to see the 25th annual Bank of the West Celebrates America concert at Memorial Park, featuring Eddie Money and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, along with Bonne Finken + The Collective and a 20-minute fireworks show.
Briganti got to the park at 5 a.m. to reserve her usual spot on the hill. She used caution tape to mark a territory big enough for American flag lawn chairs, coolers, two umbrellas, snacks, four blankets and six friends.
"I've been here every year since it began," said Briganti, who took the day off from work. "The music is fun, and the people are fun."
When Jett, who with the BLACKHEARTS was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, took the stage after Eddie Money, she opened with two classic hits, "Bad Reputation" and "Cherry Bomb."
A crowd of about 75,000 was there to listen, with some people standing and clapping to the beat, others dancing with glow-in-the-dark necklaces, and still others snacking and relaxing on their blankets and lawn chairs.
Bank of the West said, on average, 60,000 people attend the free annual concert, so the 25th anniversary crowd exceeded expectations. Joan Lukas, the event manager, said the crowd was so large that, for the first time, there were people sitting on blankets on the south side of Dodge Street watching the show.
Bob Dalrymple, an executive vice president of the Bank of the West, said the annual concert is a "thank you" to the community.
"My favorite part is the whole family atmosphere, and celebrating the city and great country that we have," Dalrymple said.
Judy Hamilton of Omaha brought her two young granddaughters, Olivia and Ellie, to the concert for their first time. It was Hamilton's 10th time.
While waiting hours for the show to start, Olivia and Ellie played with Barbie dolls and binoculars while Hamilton relaxed.
"I love the family aspect of the concert so much I could cry," Hamilton said. "This really brings Omaha together."
Kaila Nelson, 17, has been coming to the concert with her grandmother since she was 9. This year, Nelson brought her friend Chris McLaughlin, of Onawa, Iowa.
"It's a tradition," said Nelson, of Soldier, Iowa. "Every year just keeps getting better and better."
In honor of fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bill Williams set up a "Remembering our Fallen" exhibit at the park for the first time.
He said the concert is a good opportunity for people to see the men and women who have died for them.
"I think to myself," Briganti said, "the reason I can do this and have a good time is because of the people out there who died for me."
A plane from Offutt Air Force Base flew over the concert before it began at 6 p.m., and VFW Post 2503 presented the colors to go with the singing of the National Anthem.
Orrick said of all the bands she's seen in past years at the annual concert, her favorite was Huey Lewis and the News.
"It's not even the music, though," she said. "It's just fun to see this many people having fun." |
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