Summer concerts returning to The Grove

Officials cautiously optimistic amid virus

Mayfield Village’s outdoor amphitheater, The Grove, was among the numerous venues forced to cancel all performances last summer due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but the city recently announced concerts will be returning there in early July.

Parks and Recreation Director Shane McAvinew said they are “moving forward with caution” and currently have scheduled a line-up of weekend concerts he hopes the public will be able to

enjoy.

The season kicks off July 9 with tribute acts Simply Queen and FLESH & BLOOD, the Ultimate Poison Experience, and runs through Sept. 11, closing with symphonic-rock group Cello Fury.

However, McAvinew explained, events at The Grove will look a bit different this year as organizers take into consideration safety and capacity factors amid the pandemic.

Concerts at The Grove are open to the public and do not require tickets, but officials will be keeping an eye on capacity. The venue holds about 6,000 people when full due to its large, outdoor space, but McAvinew said their goal for now is to limit it to 25 percent capacity — around 1,500 people.

“If we can control the environment, then I think we’ll be successful,” he said.

Concert attendees will be asked to comply with wearing masks, frequent sanitization and social distancing practices when outside of the small ‘pod’ of family or friends that they arrived with.

McAvinew explained that his department is prepared to make changes to the season if necessary if coronavirus cases begin to spike again, but for now they plan on adhering to all best practices and health mandates to have a fun and safe season of shows.

“We want people to realize that nothing is a guarantee, but we’re going to do our best...,” he said. “We just need to all do our part and keep going in the right direction.”

As far as the shows,

“If we can control the environment, then I think we’ll be successful.” — Mayfield Village Parks and Recreation Director Shane McAvinew

McAvinew said that the majority of the acts will be the same ones that were set to perform in the cancelled 2020 season.

“Ninety-nine percent are concerts that we were supposed to have last year,” he said, “We were very dedicated to giving them their jobs back if at all possible.”

SUBMITTED Patrons of The Grove in Mayfield Village enjoy Out of Eden, a tribute band to The Eagles, in July 2019. All 2020concerts were canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but shows at the amphitheater will be making a comeback this summer.