By Jef Rietsma
Vicksburg municipal officials a year ago were certain a newly assembled, weekly event called ‘Burg Days of Summer would pique the interest of local residents and perhaps generate a small buzz in the area.
The success of the inaugural program, however, was greater than almost anyone could have predicted, according to Village Manager Jim Mallery.
“We were confident it was going to be positive in all aspects through participation by families, impact on local businesses, and the overall opinion of the village and the direction we were going,” Mallery said. “However, the level that it reached we did not anticipate, and that’s why we’re so thankful to have committed financing for 2024 and 2025.”
The second season of ‘Burg Days of Summer begins June 12 and is scheduled to conclude Aug. 14. As it did last year, the weekly event takes place starting at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday downtown.
Mallery said ending the series in mid-August gives the village two Wednesdays as backup in the event inclement weather wipes out any of the nine scheduled Wednesdays.
There is no ‘Burg Days July 3.
Mallery said the 2024 series will cost about $50,000 to stage.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction knowing ‘Burg Days of Summer has such a far-reaching impact that it’s drawing people not just from Vicksburg and Schoolcraft, but brings in people from further away in Kalamazoo County as well as people from neighboring counties,” Mallery said. “That’s good for businesses, it’s good for people looking for a weekly fun thing to do and it certainly doesn’t hurt Vicksburg’s reputation as a destination community.”
Each event features two bands, with one stage set up on South Main Street and the other on East Prairie Street. The 2024 inaugural ‘Burg Days features Old Hank’s Son Band on Main Street, and Tony Fields & Doug Decker on Prairie Street.
Mallery said it was by design that the ‘Burg Days concerts feature a variety of musical genres. For example, post 2000s pop/rock trio J.P. Energy, described as a party band, performs June 19. Around the corner the same evening, Greg Cordes entertains with a mix of country/western, blues and rock. On July 10, Out of Favor Boys will showcase blues/funk/soul tunes, while pop classics can be heard by Three of a Kind on Prairie Street. And on July 17, Bob Seger tribute band Special Guest performs on Main Street while reggae music featuring Hurricane has been scheduled for the Prairie Street stage.
In addition to live music, each ‘Burg Days will include attractions for, but not limited to, the younger crowd. The weekly rotation will feature a 105-foot-long obstacle course, a 3D “Klime Wall,” three-lane basketball bungee, vertical rush slide, stars and stripes obstacle course, 32-foot rock climbing wall, extreme obstacle course and “high stryker” and a giant slide.
Meanwhile, the village is sponsoring a second-annual Senior ‘Burg Day Sept. 5 for those 55 years of age and older.
