Marion Spotlight: Palatine Park to rock the summer away for 10th anniversary of venue

Marion County Administrator Kris Cinalli, who plans and oversees the events at Palatine Park, said that although planning the events is a lot of work, he couldn't be more excited to celebrate the venue's 10th anniversary this summer.

"It's a lot of work, but it's been worth it," Cinalli said. "We have a great team. ... It all comes together on the beautiful Saturday events that we have, and I'm so grateful. ... You can see the fruits of our labor, and getting people to come out means the world, because there are a lot of people working hard to produce these shows."

Palatine Park’s summer event schedule has the following dates:

• May 24 — RagDolls (Aerosmith tribute band)
• May 25 — ZOSO, The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin
• June 1 — Echoes: The American Pink Floyd
• June 8 — The Janis Joplin Experience starring Lisa Polizzi; The Allmost Brothers Band
• June 22 — The Ten Band (Pearl Jam tribute band); Lounge Fly (Stone Temple Pilots tribute band)
• June 29 — Trish Toledo with special guest Jason Joshua
• July 6 — Independence Day Celebration featuring Wanted: The Bon Jovi Tribute Band; Motorcycle Drive-By
• July 13 — The 2024 Johnnie Johnson Festival featuring The Gripsweats; A.J. & the Jiggawatts; Adrian & The Soul Miners
• July 20 — Shakespeare in the Park presents “The Tempest”
• July 27 — Yellow Dubmarine, the Dub Reggae Beatles Tribute
• Aug. 3 — The Warped Tour Band; All the Blink Things (blink-182 tribute band); Dookie (Green Day tribute band)
• Aug. 10 — Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band; Hi-Jivers
• Aug. 17 — Half Step (Grateful Dead tribute band)
• Aug. 24 — Absolute Queen: The Ultimate Tribute to Queen

Cinalli noted in the last couple of years, he made a conscious effort to book a larger variety of bands, bringing genres like metal, hip-hop and reggae to the the park instead of simply relying on bands playing classic rock and country.

He said this year's schedule fits that same theme, and he hopes that this summer, Palatine Park will have something for everyone.

"You don't want to pigeonhole yourself, and we want to keep it fresh," Cinalli said. "We want to keep drawing people in from other areas, and so far, it's been working to keep the variety up. We definitely like to hit different avenues every year, and I think we've continued to do that this year."

Cinalli noted that one weekend each month is dedicated to showcasing wholly original artists, and while historically those shows haven't been as well-attended as the tribute bands, Cinalli said that they are definitely worth seeing live.

"There is definitely a market there," Cinalli said. "We get asked all the time to bring in original music, and that gets a bit hard to do because we're a little bit off the beaten path as far as what people come to expect. ... We have people who are very passionate about the original music that we get, and we have a great lineup for them this year."

Marion County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Leisha Elliott said Palatine Park has turned into a big draw for Marion County, and she's excited to see what the venue has in store this summer.

"Parks and recreation services are often cited as one of the most essential factors in surveys of livable communities," Elliott said. "Parks provide gathering places for families and social groups, as well as for individuals of all ages and economic status, regardless of their ability to pay for access. Palatine Park does this and more. 

"Palatine Park remains a true gem in Marion County. With public art, farmer markets, yoga classes, fishing tournaments and more, Palatine Park is a true destination for residents and visitors. The CVB looks forward to celebrating ten years of great music and family-friendly activities."

Cinalli encouraged people to come to one or multiple shows at Palatine Park this summer, noting that people can bring their own chairs and a cooler and make an entire evening of relaxing in the park to live music.

He added that he encourages people not to just come to Fairmont for the Palatine Park shows, but to come earlier and enjoy what the city and county as to offer before capping the weekend off with the live music.

"There is a lot to do in Marion County," Cinalli said. "There is more and more to do on Merchant Street with LumberjAxe and Stumptown Ales, and Arcade-O-Mania right around the corner. There's a lot to do on a nice summer day in Fairmont, and we encourage people to come check out the area and top it off with a nice, free show."