Producer's Notes: Flooding, farewells and fun (2024)

Man, how is it possible that here we sit two weeks before Saturday in the Park and we are dealing with flooding again. Seems surreal. Where is Cee Lo Green when we need him?

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those impacted by the flooding, both locally and upstream as well within Siouxland as a whole. There are many that have been affected and it seems like a loss of perspective not to recognize that fact when talking about a music festival, something much, much less important than recovery from the devastation of flooding.

I’m always happy when Saturday in the Park is upon us. It’s a great time of year and great when the community comes together to help present an event like SITP. Sadly, often the other times communities come together are for disasters, like floods and tornadoes, so to have a collective gathering that is positive is really nice. And, it goes without saying, even though I will say it again, that we couldn’t put on SITP without our awesome community. The support we receive financially is awe inspiring and the help from businesses and volunteers, and the City of Sioux City, make this all possible. Our volunteer committee is unrivaled in terms of commitment and dedication (and in some cases longevity as well!). Without them, there is no SITP.

Missing from SITP

Sadly this year we lost one of our long time committee members, Glenn Walinski. Glenn passed away in January after living in Sioux City for many years and serving as venue manager at the Tyson Events Center, and also manning the grill yearly in the SITP volunteer tent. Glenn continued to return to Sioux City for SITP yearly even after moving to Wisconsin, and really valued the camaraderie of the SITP crew and volunteers, making it his mission that day to keep the volunteers well fed as the official SITP grillmaster. It won’t be the same for all of us this year when we go to get a burger in the middle of the day and Glenn isn’t there, and we will deeply miss Glenn, and his smile.

Another anniversary

Next year SITP will celebrate our 35th anniversary. While that milestone is great in some ways it also warrants some reflection. Where is the next SITP? Or SITPs? There are a few percolating out there, like Alley Arts fest, June Jam, and maybe some events on the river but, in general, we have become complacent and apathetic. We need a culture here where folks in the 20s are encouraged and nurtured to start events, businesses, etc. and help them grow. We seem to have lost that. Initiatives take years instead of weeks, months instead of days. It seems like apathy is everywhere.

Ponder Sioux City without SITP. Someday SITP will become stale, so we need to focus on the next SITP, and the same goes for all other events we presently have. These events don’t last forever, they get tired, and we need to always keep pushing and trying to come up with the next thing or things. We need to fight the general apathy and bureaucracy in our community and innovate. I’m always up for helping for sure, and I know a boatload of folks that are as well. Our city leaders can help by pushing this philosophy and culture, and truly supporting it, not just giving it lip service. We are a good community that can continue to be a great community if we keep on pushin’.

This year’s offering

On to this year’s fest. Bleachers are a great band, and awesome live! Don’t miss them. Mike Campbell has a truly awesome new album out and is great live; don’t miss him for sure either! Nikki Lane will be great, as will Del Water Gap, and Andy Frasco is super fun. The Abe will be nuts as well. Black Joe Lewis has been on our list for both stages for a while, and Paul Wall and Twista following him will be really sweet. Many of you won’t know where to go, where to turn, which stage, so many choices, so little time. Just roll with it, and head on down (don’t miss Snapchat filters at both stages, proof you were there/here).

We will continue to try and improve on the customer experience this year by offering cashless options at all bars along with cash options as well, to help you make your purchases regardless of your cash or cashless status (thank you Kathleen and OVG)! We will also be selling water at the beer stations this year, and seltzers and wine as well. Of course, will have a max number of awesome food vendors, craft vendors and stuff for the kids to do in the Kid’s Zone. Something for everyone, with one little catch…this year you will need to enter through a magnetometer (aka metal detector). Its quick and easy, and long overdue. It’s also quicker and easier if you leave all your non-essential stuff at home. Ride the shuttle from the Tyson Event’s Center, the best value in the land, and definitely leave your pets, coolers, wagons, tents, etc. at home unless you want to get to the gate at SITP and then turn around and take them back to your car or home.

Thank you again to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City, The Gilchrist Foundation, the Bluestem Fund, Tyson Foods and all of our other great sponsors, we couldn’t do it without you. Also thank you to the Chamber for the fireworks at the end of the night as well, all we need now is a really big pack of Bic lighters.

See you in Grandview Park soon, it’s gonna be a great one!