More than 8,000 people took in programing at Levee Park’s Rotary Pavilion for the Music in the Park summer series.

Recreation Program Specialist Paige Marshall Bigler reported to the Hastings City Council at its meeting Oct. 3 that planning for next year’s series is already underway, and she’s hoping for grant funding from the Metro Arts Council to help with it.

Marshall Bigler said that the city promoted events for the popular summer series with large kiosk displays downtown, while also utilizing local media and social media to draw people in who haven’t attended in past years.

In all, it’s a win for Hastings and downtown businesses.

“These events help drive tourism to the city by bringing people from surrounding areas to experience Hastings,” she said.

In collaboration with the Thursday night series, which features a variety of entertainment, the city hosted Makers Market Alleyway markets north of 2nd Street adjacent to the riverfront parking lot. Those featured local crafters and artisans selling their wares, and those were a big hit with visitors.

All told, she said that even with weatherforced cancellations four evenings, attendance at the Rotary Pavilion events was estimated at 8,300 people.

“We’ve continued to grow in attendance,” Marshall Bigler told the council.

This year, the programming didn’t receive any funding from the Metro Regional Arts Council, which was deluged with requests.

“I continue to apply for grants and build partnerships with organizations. However, we did not receive funding from the Metro Regional Arts Council in either grant cycles this year or the Minnesota State Arts Board, but we have applied for 2023. We hope to increase our funding sources for next season,” she said.

Another revenue source is rentals at Levee Park. There were 43 rentals this year.

“Our parks team works really hard daily with the maintenance and upkeep at Levee Park, preparing for those rentals, and I want to express my appreciation to our program partners and sponsors in our community who continue to show interest to have these offerings at Levee Park. I thank you, mayor and city council, for your continued support for these programs in Hastings,” she said.

Councilmembers praised the work the Parks and Recreation Department does to keep things lively in the parks.

“These events are amazing,” said Lisa Leifeld. “I come down there, and I love seeing people from all over the place. We joke about it when we can go somewhere, and we don’t know hardly any of the people. That’s an awesome thing.

“You are just awesome at this. I don’t know what I would do with my summer if you weren’t down there having all these awesome events.”

Jen Fox commented, “I had the pleasure of working at some of the Makers Alleyway Markets and watching the hordes of people flocking down to the pavilion just to see the Performance in the Park is just an exceptional addition to the Rotary Pavilion.”

Mayor Mary Fasbender also thanked the community event sponsors.

“You couldn’t do your job without their assistance too,” she said.