Where to park for Roverfest

Some parking free, or pay for guarantee

Fans coming to Roverfest will have a shot at free parking relatively close to Black River Landing.

Fans coming to Lorain for Roverfest again will have a shot at free parking relatively close to Black River Landing for the July 30 event.

Meanwhile, anyone who wants to get close to the action — but without paying $40 for tickets that are sold out — can visit the Lorain Palace Theater.

For the third year, the city’s riverfront festival site, operated by the Lorain Port Authority, will host the annual summer party of Shane “Rover” French, host of Rover’s Morning Glory on WMMS 100.7 FM in Cleveland.

This year’s acts include Ludacris, Bush, Chevelle, New Politics and Jim Breuer and The Loud and Rowdy.

A map of available parking is available at www.roverradio.com.

The set-up for parking around downtown Lorain generally is the same as in 2015, which had smooth operations for guests to the city, said Lorain Safety-Service Director Dan Given.

To get to the concert site, visitors can park on the street or in city-owned lots for free. The lot behind Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., is free, Given said.

“City hall parking lot, two minutes away, wide open,” he said.

The city lot parking is free but is not reservable or guaranteed.

Anyone who wants a guaranteed spot can pay $20 per space in the lots of United Property Management Co. Lorain developer Jon Veard owns the company and donates the parking proceeds to charity.

Spaces off West Fifth Street are available in advance by calling 440-2452813, payable by credit card. The time to call is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 28 and 29, and Aug. 1 to 5 for parking for Country Jam, the concert planned Aug. 6 at Black River Landing.

United Property Management will make spaces available in the company’s lots for $20 payable in cash on the days of the concerts as well. For information, call 440-245-2813.

There are reports of a number of guests planning on buses, cabs and Uber drivers for transportation, especially based on expectations of consuming alcohol, Given said.

Based on 2015 and the use of car-pooling, it shows Lorain has more than enough parking to deal with the event, Given said.

Anyone who wants to enjoy people-watching and hear the music of Roverfest without going inside can hang out at the Backstage Bar at the Lorain Palace Theater.

The playhouse is at 617 Broadway and its stage doors open onto Black River Lane across from where Roverfest will be on Black River Landing. The Palace has a liquor license so beer and nonalcoholic beverages will be available.

In the last two years, the Backstage Bar has turned into a significant fundraiser for the Palace, said Kurt Hernon, operations director for programming.

“We encourage the public to come down,” Hernon said. “It’s a good way to kind of get your distant glimpse of what’s happening with Roverfest without having to jump headfirst into it.”

The RoverFest 2016 official after-party will be midnight to 2:30 a.m. at Bar 145, 35546 Detroit Road in Avon.