Music on the Square: a different kind of Amish Country entertainment
By Jenna Polen
June 13, 2012
925
The Berlin Main Street merchants are always focused on one thing, making Berlin a better place to visit. So it comes as no surprise that yet another event has been added to the long list during the summer. June 1 marked the beginning of Music on the Square in Berlin.
Music on the Square will bring free gospel concerts to the square of Berlin every Friday night, June through September. Each Friday will offer a new aspect of music for visitors in Berlin.
Beginning June 1, with John Schmid performing, music flowed through downtown Berlin, bringing many visitors to see what was playing downtown. The music on Friday nights begins at 7 p.m. and can last until 8:30 or 9 p.m. depending on the band.
Even though it was a little chilly, the first night went great. We had people coming early to wait and get a good seat. We even had people who were just sitting around town to listen. Locals and visitors love hearing repeat acts come back each year, said Eli Hochstetler, Berlin Main Street Merchant member and owner of the Gospel Book Store.
The rest of the schedule goes as follows, with many new and repeat acts frequenting the stage: June 22- High Country Bluegrass; June 29- Halfway Home; July 6- John Schmid; July 13- Holmes County Bluegrass; July 20- Servants Heart; July 27- Halfway Home; August 3- Dave & John; August 10- Holmes County Bluegrass; August 17- Halfway Home; August 24- High Country Bluegrass; August 31- Daughters of Grace; Sept. 7- Halfway Home; Sept. 14- Holmes County Bluegrass; and Sept. 21- High Country Bluegrass.
The shows have been done for quite awhile; its just something for us to do on Friday evening. We live in a culture in Berlin that is not matched anyplace else, which is why tourists come to see us. So we have to make sure people have plenty of things to do, said Hochstetler. One of the things that is very strong are religious beliefs in Amish Country. Having music on the square is a way of sharing it with others.
The merchants also looked at the music as a way to give people entertainment after the shops close around 5 p.m.
One of the biggest complaints the merchants get is how our shops close early, but we have families and thats why we are who we are. But we can try and give people other opportunities for things to do, like Music on the Square, the Walnut Creek Comedy Barn, and the Confession in Sugarcreek. Tourists love that we are doing these things for them, said Hochstetler.
The Berlin Main Street Merchants ensure that visitors and locals always have a good time while visiting, and Music on the Square is just another way for that to happen.
We have a lot of ideas that we want to do in downtown Berlin, and we are going to make sure they happen, said Hochstetler.
