Elkhart Parks and Recreation event staff previewed fall programming and reviewed summer attendance figures during the Aug. 19 park board meeting, highlighting the Island of Blues Music Festival scheduled Sept. 13 and several community events planned through September.

Liz Stoutnauer, event coordinator for Elkhart Parks and Recreation, told the board she presented two performer contracts for the Island of Blues festival on Sept. 13 and said the lineup includes five bands and programming from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. She said the department partnered with the Coachmen classic car group, which will bring about 40 cars to line the walkway as an additional attraction.

“We have 5 bands, goes until 9,” Stoutnauer said while describing the festival schedule. Stoutnauer also said Apache Blues is from the Chicago area and is an all-female band.

Stoutnauer said the department will host a one-year anniversary disc-golf tournament at Nylen Park the same weekend to celebrate the course’s first year of operation and noted a local organizer is partnering with the department for the tournament.

The board approved two Burn Boot Camp workout permits: Sept. 6 at Walker Park and Sept. 27 at NIBCO. Stoutnauer described Burn Boot Camp as a local gym/franchise working with the department’s volunteer coordinator on logistics.

The parks department recounted its summer event numbers in the meeting’s department reports. The department reported the July 18 summer concert at NIBCO drew about 300 attendees; other small concerts and park movies drew roughly 100–200 participants depending on the event. The department also said Island of Blues will feature food and concessions; event logistics will require standard contract provisions and technical riders from performers.

Mandy Knoll, volunteer coordinator, reported the parks volunteer program recorded 92 service hours in July from volunteers across multiple events. Knoll asked for volunteer help for fall youth soccer coaching, Island of Blues and Art Walk Wednesdays.

Ending: Staff asked the board to approve contracts and permits so event planning can continue on an accelerated schedule; most approvals were granted by voice vote at the meeting.