Music in the Park 2026
THURSDAYS 7:00 PM | MAY 28 - JULY 30
CENTRAL PARK STAGE
GRINNELL, IOWA
If it’s summer, it must be Thursday Music in the Park! Join the Grinnell Area Arts Council on summer Thursday evenings for music from old favorites and new finds. Bring your blankets and camp chairs, grab a bite from a local restaurant or a food truck and park yourself for a musical evening! Read on for more information about 2026’s bands!
Please check our Facebook page for inclement weather updates.
MAY 28
JUSTIN ROBERTS & THE NOT-READY-FOR-NAPTIME PLAYERS
(music for kids & their grown-ups)
https://www.justinrobertsmusic.com/
Des Moines native and five-time GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts is one of the founders of the modern family music scene. For 25 years, Roberts has been creating the soundtrack to families’ lives, helping kids navigate the joys and sorrows of growing up, while inspiring parents to remember their own childhoods. His songs are the kind of get-stuck-in-your-head pop nuggets that draw comparisons to Elvis Costello, Fountains of Wayne, and Paul Simon rather than just simple nursery rhymes, prompting USA Today to call him “hands-down the best songwriter in the genre.” Justin will be joined by the Grinnell Children’s Choir and other Grinnell youth singers!
*Presented by McCue & Associates LLC - American Family Insurance
THURSDAY JUNE 4 & 11: 7:00 PM
SATURDAY JUNE 20 & 27: 10:00 AM
THE GRINNELL COMMUNITY BAND (concert band)
https://www.grinnellarts.org/community-band
The Grinnell Community Band brings friends and neighbors together to perform your concert band favorites, with a twist! NEW THIS YEAR: two performances on Saturday mornings during the Grinnell Farmers Market. Want to play, too? Email grinnellcommunityband@gmail.com!
JUNE 18
LANI (Latin/pop)
https://www.officiallani.com/
Based in Des Moines, Lani is a Colombian-American singer/songwriter, keyboardist, and accordion player based in Iowa, named Latin Artist of the Year at the Iowa Music Awards in 2024. As a solo artist, she captivates with intimate songwriting and delicate vibes, while her powerhouse vocals drive the full band’s explosive rhythm and energy. Together, Lani and her band fuse Colombian Latin music with American pop, making waves across the Midwest.
JUNE 25
RIVER GLEN (folk/Americana)
https://www.riverglenmusic.com/
Hailing from Dubuque, multi-instrumentalist River Glen Breitbach writes poignant folk-pop with lyricism that is clever and current. River’s songs and performances have “somethin to say,” and the band will be stopping in Grinnell before heading back for a performance with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra on June 28.
JULY 2
TURLACH UR PIPE BAND (Scottish pipe band)
https://www.grinnellarts.org/turlach-ur
Based in Grinnell, Turlach Uris the largest pipe band in Iowa with over 30 band members. This drum and bagpipe band performs a variety of traditional pipe band pieces mixed with the unexpected pop or rock tune! Read more HERE.
JULY 9
TANYA ENGLISH BAND (blues)
https://healingwiththeblues.com/the-tanya-english-band/
Calling Iowa City home, the Tanya English Band has been playing classic and contemporary blues with a women’s empowerment twist in eastern Iowa for over a decade, bringing together the area’s finest musicians and creating a dynamic, family-friendly, show.
JULY 16
TYLER RICHTON & THE HIGH BANK BOYS (country)
https://tylerrichtonhbb.com/
Based in Deep River, Tyler Richton and The High Bank Boys bring a neo-traditional country sound with high energy and real music. Drawing influence from artists like Merle Haggard, Charlie Daniels and Hank Williams Jr., audiences of all kinds find a show they can enjoy and music they can feel.
JULY 23
BAREFOOT BECKY & THE IVANHOE DUTCHMEN (polka)
https://barefootbecky.com/
Hailing from Mt. Vernon, Becky and her crew are perennial park favorites, bringing their seasoned mix of polka favorites. Bring your dancing shoes!
JULY 30
MANGO SOUL (soul/funk/pop)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561006534526
Based in Central Iowa, you can find Mango Soul rocking basements to breweries to the 'brai with an eclectic assortment of covers and originals rooted in soul, funk, and pop!
