Day 56: Showboat Concert Series

Park your car in the quaint downtown of Lowell, Michigan on any Thursday night this summer.  As you close your car door, you will hear music wafting towards you, perhaps jazz or maybe some blues.  Upon tracing the music to its source, you are led to the Riverwalk Plaza where a stage is set up just in front of the river and a majestic river boat.  The scent of hamburgers sizzling on an open flame permeates the air and the excited buzz of hundreds of concert goers hums just below the music.  Find yourself a seat either on the historic showboat, the bleachers, or even bring your own chairs to relax in.  This, my friends, is a typical evening at the 2011 Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Concert Series.

The most striking thing about the Concert Series is its location.  Though Lowell certainly maintains a small town vibe, the well maintained historic buildings and its location on the river gives the town plenty of charm.  On a sunny day, the sun shimmers off the water’s surface and ducks can be seen congregating peacefully in the river.   The Riverwalk Plaza, relatively new in comparison to the historic buildings that line the streets, provides a beautiful central hub for the festivities.

The showboat itself is also truly beautiful, paying homage to a rich tradition of such boats in the Lowell community.  While the current showboat, dubbed Robert E. Lee, was built in 1979, the tradition of the Lowell Showboat heralds back to 1932.  The original showboat, the George Washington, was initially built to provide encouragement to a community burdened by the Great Depression.  The current boat is permanently docked near the Riverwalk Plaza and provides a beautiful location for weddings or other private occasions.   During the Christmas season you can even visit Santa.

During the Concert Series the boat serves as both additional seating and the purveyor of alcohol.  The boat houses a cash bar, for those who prefer booze with their music, as well as food for purchase.  Food is also available on the Riverwalk Plaza by the Lowell Lions Club, selling things such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and B.C. Pizza.

The music present at the Concert Series is very diverse, changing drastically from week to week.  In the series’ first week, 126th Army Band graced the stage.  Since then, bands representing swing, blues, and country have also performed.  This diversity of music is sure to please many concert goers.

The Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series occurs every Thursday night this summer, except for August 11th.  The event boasts free admission for folks of all ages, as well as free parking.  The location is handicap accessible and the variety of seating allows for concert goers to find the seating accommodations that are most comfortable for them. ~Chad Cramblet, Regional Director

Check out https://www.discoverlowell.org/sizzlin-summer-concerts/ for the list of remaining concerts!