MUSCATINE, Iowa–In 2018, Brad Bark and Brian Chick put their heads together to come up with a new downtown event to get people out and about. Bark remembers them thinking, “let’s do something for the community to come down, socialize, have a good time, and give back.” Their efforts produced Rockin’ on Sycamore, which for two years drew large crowds to enjoy live music and donate to Shop with a Cop, which allows Muscatine Community School District students whose families may not have the means to buy them holiday gifts to go shopping with members of the Muscatine Police Department. After a two year break, the event will return as Rockin’ on Second Street and promises to have more great ways to have fun and support good causes Oct. 8 starting at 1 p.m.
In the spirit of community partnership, Rockin’ On Second Street has teamed up with Crossroads to kick the day off with a kids carnival and music from Winterland, a Grateful Dead cover band. Throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening, a variety of bands will play including the Spinners at 5 p.m., which continues the legacy of local favorite Lefty and the Spinners, Zero Dark 30 at 6:30 p.m., and Roadside Circus at 8:30 p.m. Bark especially anticipates the Spinners drawing a crowd, as Lefty and the Spinners had a strong following at many community events. “That will be very cool to have them coming back,” he remarked.
Food and beverage vendors, such as Skinny’s Barbeque and Pr%f Social, will have plenty of tasty meal and drink options available ensuring people have the fuel they need to keep the fun going all evening long. “The whole idea is to get community members from Muscatine and the surrounding area to come out and enjoy downtown, our beautiful downtown, enjoy outdoor music, and support Crossroads and Shop with a Cop,” Bark emphasized.
Throughout the day, people will have the opportunity to support Crossroad’s mission to assist people with disabilities in living the fullest lives possible and Shop with a Cop through several enjoyable activities. They will include a pie in the face event as well as a silent auction. The last Rockin’ on Sycamore raised $15,000 between private donations and sponsorships, and Bark knows that no matter what, this year’s event will garner much support as well.
Because hosting such a large community gathering to support worthy causes represents a group effort, Rockin’ on Second Street has many sponsors behind it. Bark thanked Boonies, CBI Bank and Trust, Crossroads, Inc., Clark’s Muffler & Service, Edward Jones-Bobbie Holiday, ESI, the HNI Charitable Foundation, Hoffman, Inc, Members Community Credit Union, Muscatine Downtown Investors, LLC, Pearl City Chiropractic, Plaza Storage, Pr%f Social, Rebuilding Together, Retirement Resource Group, Stanley Consultants, Sycamore Printing, TanTara Transportation Corp., TK Construction, TSI, Enterprises, Inc, and Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home, Inc, as well as any others that join before the event.
An outstanding free event for Muscatine area residents of all ages, Bark anticipates Rockin’ on Second Street will have an excellent turn out, and he looks forward to seeing, “people coming together and having fun at an event for members of small businesses and big corporations to come together and bring their families.”
