Good Shot Judy kicked off the first Summer Breeze concert of 2018 — and the first at the series’ new venue.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation moved the free summer concert series to the lawn in front of the Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum for the 2018 season. The series was also renamed Summer Breeze — Unleashed and was presented in partnership with CultureFix.
Summer Breeze had previously been held in Merchants Square since it began 27 years ago.
The new venue offers more space, more shade and new food and beverage options. The event was catered by Two Drummers BBQ, and beer was provided by Alewerks and Virginia Beer Co.
Jeff Duncan, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s vice president of real estate, said more than 1,900 people — the highest attendance in the series’ history — came out to see the show.
“You couldn’t have this kind of crowd at Merchants Square,” Williamsburg resident and Summer Breeze veteran John Hughes said.
Concertgoers said they liked the changes.
“To be able to come out here to see Good Shot [Judy] at a big, open venue like this, you gotta love it,” John Boehmer said.
Fences were placed around the perimeter of the lawn along Francis and Henry streets. Guests entered and set up camping chairs or blankets, covering nearly the entire lawn by the time Good Shot Judy took the stage at 6 p.m.
The spaces where no one was sitting were usually filled with dancing adults or playing children.
“There’s more shade here,” Doreen Herbst said. “It went so long in Merchants Square it would get packed. It was tough for people to walk around so I can understand why they moved.”
Herbst said she has attended the concert series every summer for five years. She made use of the extra space by bringing a small fold-up table so she, her husband, Dennis, and some friends could sit comfortably with food and drink while they watched the performance.
“I think it’s more kid-friendly,” Williamsburg resident Susan Franz said. “I think the kids have more room to spread out. It’s multi-generational.”
The concert series will continue for 15 more weeks, running each Wednesday through Sept. 19.
Good Shot Judy lead singer Brett Cahoon said he was pleased to be the series’ first act in its new home.
“I liked it over here,” Cahoon said. “It’s beautiful out here on the lawn. I think it’s perfect as far as location. It seemed like an easier place for kids, they could roll around in the grass.”
