Sounds of Summer Music Series

June 2023

Have you taken a peek at our Sounds of Summer concerts coming up in Summer 2023? Our staff work hard each year to book and arrange a variety of fun, funky & rocking shows for all ages and interests! All shows are free as local music artists perform in some of our beautiful parks and nature settings. The entire community is invited, and fans anxiously await the release of our seasonal lineup to mark their calendars, break out the lawn chairs and pack their picnic baskets. Our Sounds of Summer concerts have been an annual tradition going back generations!

Tracing our history through staff that have come and gone as well as historical program guides, we were able to follow the summer performances at Wallace Bowl all the way to 1937, when the open-air amphitheater in Gillson Park was first constructed. Wallace Bowl stands today, hosting community gatherings, performances and events much as it did over 80 years ago. In an effort to proactively maintain the historic Wallace Bowl, the Ouilmette Foundation is currently working on a fundraising plan, while Woodhouse Tinucci Architects and Park District staff are moving forward with the planning process. Preliminary analysis recommends structural repairs, tuck-pointing, masonry restoration, landscaping and audio/visual upgrades. View the full presentation here.

Starting in 2010, the Sounds of Summer expanded to include performances at the gazebo in Mallinckrodt Park. A site equally rich in history, the 17 acres of Mallinckrodt were originally the grounds and building for a convent and school established in 1918. Changing hands through the years, the site became Mallinckrodt College, a part of Loyola University. In 2002, the Wilmette Park District purchased the land and building, and from this acquisition Mallinckrodt Park was formed and the historic building was renovated into condos, with the southern end reserved as a Park District facility, the Mallinckrodt Center. Today, our community enjoys midday children’s concerts on Wednesdays, and Sunday afternoon concerts for the whole family at Mallinckrodt Park.

So, grab a lawn chair and step into the timeline of our Sounds of Summer concerts in the park. Enjoy the tradition as it continues on into the future!