Music lovers young and old flooded Central Park Plaza on Saturday evening to take in the bumping rock and roll tunes at Summer Jam Music and Food Festival 2013, headlined by Blue Oyster Cult. Spirits ran high as the beer flowed, and the enthusiastic atmosphere of the concert was contagious.
The afternoon opened with performances by two other live bands, Josh Holmes and M & R Rush before Blue Oyster Cult took the stage to raucous cheers and applause.
Local restaurants also came out to take part in the festivities. The Pork on a Fork contest, wherein restaurants competed to see who could create the best pork dish, was a concertgoer favorite. The competitors included Bistro 157, Bon Femme Café, Don Quijote, Margarita’s Bar and Grill, Pikk’s Tavern, The Silver Spoon, and Tommy B’s. Concertgoers can vote online for their favorite food vendor.
“I think events like this make Valpo what it is: the best place in the world to grow up,” recent Valparaiso High School graduate Landon Davison said. “We’re very lucky to live in a community that offers an environment like this that brings everyone together.”
A kind gentleman dressed in vintage military attire, who goes by the striking name Popeye the Mercenary, gave credit to the Valparaiso Community Festivals and Events (VCFE) for creating an city-wide environment full of good vibes and good times.
“Blue Oyster Cult blew the stage up, just like they know how!” Chesterton resident and BOC fan Dawn Meyer raved. “Mark is just awesome!”
“It’s just wonderful that events like this bring everyone out to have a good time,” said Popeye. “I’m happy when it’s tough to find a parking spot on Saturday night in Valpo. A lot of towns are drying up and blowing away, but not this one!”