LUMBERTON — Lumberton’s annual Alive After 5 concert series returns Thursday with more food, drinks and leg room for dancing than ever.

Thursday’s show featuring Jim Quick and Coastline will be the first time the concert series is held in its new home at the Southeastern Health Performance Shelter on the downtown plaza.

“I think it’s definitely going to be a new experience,” said Connie Russ, downtown development coordinator for the city.

The concerts have previously been held in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Third streets. But with the completion of the new stage this week, bands will set up shop on the Chestnut Street side of the plaza.

“The biggest difference is going to be that we will have more space,” Russ said. “That is actually a larger area, a lot of people don’t realize that. Also in June when it is so hot we have those beautiful oak trees that will offer an immense amount of shade.”

Russ said new picnic tables, umbrellas and planters have been installed in the plaza for the performance shelter’s big debut on Thursday. A ribbon cutting will be held at 6:30 p.m., following the first event on the stage, National Day of Prayer, at 12:15 p.m.

This year’s concerts will feature new vendors, including a truck that will serve up Mexican tacos, Indian tacos, burritos and a Southern staple, chicken salad sandwiches. Food vendors will set up on the Second Street side of the plaza, while a beer tent, featuring craft beers for the first time, will be located on the Third Street side. An Italian ice vendor will also be on hand at future shows when temperatures are expected to be warmer than they are on Thursday.

Russ said Tuesday that crews are on “a tight schedule” to put the finishing touches on the stage because of rainy weather. But as of Tuesday afternoon, the show was a go.

Quick and his band, which specializes in Southern rock and beach music, have been involved with the series since it launched in 2004. The band is from Wilmington

Other performers and the dates they perform are: River Mist on May 19; Band of Oz on June 2; Punch on June 9; Sand Band on June 16; and Hip Pocket on June 23. Punch, which plays beach music; River Mist, which plays top 40, and Sand Band, also a beach music band, are all new to Alive After 5.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are free to the public.

Lumberton Ford is the primary sponsor of Alive After 5. Other sponsors include BB&T, Budweiser, Lumberton Honda, Lumberton Kia, Southeastern Health, Lumber River Trading Company, True Value, Peterson Toyota, Gill Security Systems and R.A. Jeffrey’s.

In addition to street parking, free parking will be available in the lot behind the old BB&T building, at the corner of Third and Water streets, and at the corner of Fourth and Water streets. Parking will not be permitted on the plaza.

For information, call 910-671-3876 or visit lumberton-nc.com.

Sarah Willets | The Robesonian A crew takes advantage of blue skies on Tuesday afternoon to put finishing touches on the Southeastern Health Performance Shelter. The stage will debut on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the kick-off of the annual Alive After 5 concert series at 7 p.m., featuring Jim Quick and Coastline.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_sehealth-stage-2-.jpgSarah Willets | The Robesonian A crew takes advantage of blue skies on Tuesday afternoon to put finishing touches on the Southeastern Health Performance Shelter. The stage will debut on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the kick-off of the annual Alive After 5 concert series at 7 p.m., featuring Jim Quick and Coastline.
Concert series returns Thursday

By Sarah Willets

[email protected]

 

Sarah Willets can be reached at 910-816-1974 or on Twitter @Sarah_Willets.