Eight Great Tuesdays Wrist Bands
People packed the Pepsi Amphitheatre on Erie's Bayfront on Tuesday evening for the kick-off of the Eight Great Tuesdays Concert Series. Fans enjoyed the sounds of Big Let Emma, Yankee Zydeco Company, and Tiger Maple String Band.
The Eight Great Tuesdays concert series is open to everyone, but there are some changes for teens who want to go to the concert without their parents.
"We really didn't want to have to ban teenagers from being able to come to these concerts," said event organizer Nicole Vommaro. "So what we did was we instated a wrist band policy," she explained. "If you're under the age of 18 and you're here without a parent or guardian, you do need to sign in at three of our registration tables at the entrance to the park," she added.
Organizers say teens are welcome at the Eight Great Tuesdays concert series, but they have to sign a contract. Among the items listed on the contract: No running, fighting, or littering. Organizers say if teens are caught doing any of those things, they could be kicked out.
"I thought that it would be great to get the kids back into it and I thought that we could work for a cooperative situation between us and the Port Authority to solve some of the few problems that we had in the previous year," said 17-year-old Jack Batchelor.
He helped organize the wrist band program with the Port Authority.
"I think a lot of them (teenagers) really realize this is a second chance and a lot of them are ready to tone it down a bit and enjoy the concert," he added.
Concert-goers and workers say that although although there has been a young crowd, there have not been any problems.
"I've seen the people coming by with the wristbands," said Craig Laufer who works at the Carmen's Cookie Jar stand at Liberty Park.
"So I think it's a good idea," said Adam Sweetland, who was enjoying the warm weather at the concert. "Everyone should be able to come out here and enjoy themselves."
Teens will have to hang on to their wristbands. They are issued one-per-person and they are valid for the entire concert series.
