Saturday in the Park: A Sioux City tradition

Performers like Aretha Franklin, Santana and the Allman Brothers Band have graced the stage

I just saw the most diverse musical celebration of the year on Saturday. And there was no admission charge, no parking fees, no ridiculous surcharges.

It’s an annual event in Sioux City called Saturday in the Park.

The first free concert started in 1991 and the stage has graced stars like Santana, Aretha Franklin, John Fogerty and the Allman Brothers Band.

Teddy Swims belts out a song at the Saturday in the Park concert in Sioux City. (Photo by John Naughton.)

This year’s show brought Teddy Swims, Mavis Staples, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram to the main stage, the bandshell at Grandview Park, along with others. A second stage drew Texas rapper That Mexican OT and independent bands like Riff Raff.

Although people come and go and there’s no official attendance at the all-day festival, I’m estimating perhaps 10,000 were there.

In a way, Sioux City’s event is a well-kept secret. Most people who attend are from a four-state area (Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota). But many folks in say, Des Moines, may not even have heard of it.

Sioux City’s beloved Grandview Park bandshell is the main stage for the annual Saturday in the Park festival. (Photo by John Naughton.)

The artists are top rate. You’re not going to see The Rolling Stones here, but Swims — a great singer of the No. 1 hit “Lose Control” — is touring cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Boston and Cincinnati…

…And Sioux City.