Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, and Report for America on assignment for the Journal-Opinion
FAIRLEE — Despite gloomy skies and thunderstorm warnings earlier in the day, the sun emerged from the clouds just in time for the opening hours of the Lake Morey Summer Concert Series on June 18.
The annual series kicked off with performances by Jeff Kazee and the Adam Ezra Group. Free concerts will continue through August 27, primarily on Thursday nights, with a handful of Tuesday and Wednesday performances bringing folk, rock, soul and other genres to Fairlee throughout the summer.
As concert-goers arrived early, crossing the golf course to set up lawn chairs in front of the stage, Wilder resident Skip Nalette scanned the sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bald eagle that became a familiar sight during last summer’s concerts.
“Almost every show, [the eagle] was like going to bed,” Nalette said.
Deborah Lundin, who has been attending the concert series since 2021, usually brings family along. But that night, Lundin arrived early to secure a parking spot and claim a seat near a favorite tree.
“It’s so fun and the music is just unbelievable and the vibes are so good, and, of course, it’s free,” Lundin said.
In partnership with Catamount Arts, the Lake Morey Summer Concert Series launched in 2021 as a thank you to the community for its decades of support and resilience through the pandemic.
As the series has expanded in attendance, so has its lineup. This summer’s roster features popular performers including Shaggy, Natasha Bedingfield and Andy Grammer.
The event’s growing attendance has brought some logistical challenges, Fairlee Selectboard member Peter Berger wrote in an email. In recent years, some residents raised concerns that the parking situation was becoming too difficult to control.
Following discussions between town officials and the resort, Berger said the concerns have been addressed through the town’s Festival Ordinance which requires organizers to provide layouts and sketches of large gatherings ahead of the events.
Parking attendant Mark Richardson worked the event last year and is back this summer. He said he hasn’t experienced any issues.
“People are pretty well-behaved. It seems to go pretty smooth,” Richardson said.
The growing popularity of the series has also created opportunities for local vendors.
Along a side road near the venue, food trucks and yard games welcomed attendees. For vendors like Ice Palace, the weekly crowds are important.
“This is my whole business,” owner Deborah Rossell said. “I do farmers markets, events, concerts, whatever I can get into.”
Ice Palace’s staple is homemade sorbet, though the business recently expanded to include vegan soups. Rossell plans to return each week throughout the concert series.
Back on the lawn near the stage, Frisbees flew through the air, and soccer balls were kicked with bare feet. The sound of live music carried across the golf course, signaling the start of another summer season.
Emily Rodin is an intern for UVM’s Community News Service through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program.