Wednesdays in downtown Chapel Hill could get livelier if a group’s recommendations for a summer concert series get a warm reception.
The Summer Events Advisory Committee mulled over a draft plan Monday, rehashing a possible event schedule and getting specific about what kinds of vendors could participate.
If the Downtown Economic Development Corporation — the series’ new sponsor — accepts the schedule, a June 15 concert would kick off the events. The series would culminate with a “major event” at the Hargraves Center athletic fields Aug. 13.
Although events have been held on Thursday in past summers, committee members say that a move to Wednesday would provide an alternative to Thursday events at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro and elsewhere.
“Wednesday’s an over-the-hump night,” said committee member Mary Jo Stone.
The schedule would see nine weeks of entertainment overall downtown. Committee members cut two events at the beginning of June to have adequate time to plan the series.
Start and stop times for the concerts — which are tentatively set at both McCorkle Place and parking lot 5, across the street from University Square — drew much conversation.
Committee member Robert Humphreys shared with fellow members some advice he’s learned from personal experience. During concerts with his band, he said, time could get precious or stale quickly on any given night.
“Some nights, I’d say, ‘Man, I wish we could play another hour,’” Humphreys said. “But some nights, we’d say, ‘Is this ever going to end?’”
