For the 14th consecutive year, free summer block parties will be returning to Williamsburg in 2019, but this time there will be a twist in the scheduling for one of them.
Organizers plan to hold three of the block parties at Bill Woods Park as usual with the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center serving as an alternate venue in the event of rain, and one of the block parties will be held at the Kentucky Splash Waterpark in conjunction with July 4 festivities.
The “Usual Suspects” will take the stage on July 4 at the waterpark performing from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. prior to the annual fireworks display.
“We wanted to add a little something with the Fourth of July. Just come on out, listen to the band and watch the fireworks. If you want to dance, then you can dance. Just have a good time,” said Williamsburg Main Street Manager Nannie Hays. “Last year was the first year we had the ‘Usual Suspects.’ They are out of the Lexington-Georgetown area. They do a lot of weekend playing over at Lake Cumberland.”
On June 14, the summer block party season will kick off with Lexington-based band “Off the Clock.”
“We’ve had them before. They are 50’s, 60’s and 70’s style music. They play nice rock and roll and good music,” Hays said.
On June 28, the Lexington-based band “Positive Movement” will be performing.
“We have had them before, but it has been three or four years. They are Motown-style with a little rock and rock mixed in,” Hays said.
The block party season will conclude on July 19 with Nashville-based “Familiar Faces” returning to Williamsburg.
“They are totally Motown. This will probably be their 13th year coming. ‘Familiar Faces’ has been the one constant every year except for the first year,” Hays added about the summer block parties.
Hays noted that in some ways she is surprised the block parties have been this successful, and in some ways she is not.
“When you have a mayor like we have. It helps to make them successful,” she said. “People in this area like music. Whether it is rock and roll or bluegrass or whatever, they are going to come listen. It is free. It is a family event. What else is there to do on a Friday night?”
One change for this year’s block parties is that they will start at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m., and all the concerts at Bill Woods Park will be set to conclude at 10:30 p.m. rather than 11 p.m.
The block parties are free and open to the public, but are bring your own lawn chair events.
“Come on out. Enjoy it. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some good music,” Hays added. “It is good socializing time.”
