By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The music and food are back in downtown Great Bend. On April 28, Fridays on Forest returns to the entertainment district on Forest Ave. between Williams and Main Streets. Great Bend Alive, the downtown arm of Great Bend Economic Development, will host the event from 5-9 p.m. on the last Friday of each month from April to October. Eco Devo Communications Director Lee Ann June encourages all to come out for the first event of the season.
"We'll have a ribbon cutting to start off the evening at 5," she said. "That will be right there at Williams and Forest, then the block party begins. It should be a good one. I know the forecast is looking a little chilly, but it I don't think it will be too bad. It'll be a nice spring day to get out and enjoy some good music, good food, and hang out with our locals."
Fridays on Forest typically feature a single band. The Lovegrass Music Festival Association has partnered with Great Bend Alive, and the April 28 kick-off will feature three bluegrass bands: Gravel Yard from Arkansas, the Brooke Blanche Band from Wichita, and Old Fangled from Lawrence.
"Gravel Yard is is the headliner, and they shared it to their page on Facebook, and they've got 10,000 followers," June said. "They're a big deal. I think each one of those bands has a following, so I'll be curious to see all the new faces we don't normally see in town. This is going to be a good one."
The April event is sponsored by Marmies Auto Group. No ticket is required for the free concert. No outside food or drink is allowed in the entertainment district, and no drinks may leave the area, but there will be a wide variety of food and beverage options from Lumpy's, Los Dos Potrillos, Band 17 BBQ, Mock N' Roll, RePerks, Yo Dog Wieners, Gambinos, and Dry Lake Brewing.