When the Smithe family of Griffith hosts their reunion each summer, they always add a few outings to the traditional picnic.
This year, after the barbecue, more than a dozen family members grabbed lawn chairs and blankets and walked five blocks to Griffith’s Central Park to watch the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. The South Shore Summer Music Festival series visits five Calumet Region communities each summer to offer free concerts performed by the orchestra.
“We don’t have anything like this in our town of Daley (Iowa),” said Harry Smithe, the patriarch of the family at age 80, as he watched the musicians warm up. “This has been a great day — good food, good company, and now we’re going to hear good music. We love the symphony sounds.”
Hundreds of others also spent the evening enjoying the sounds of the orchestra, which included 75 professional musicians serving under music director and conductor Kirk Muspratt.
Like the Smithe family, Paula and Harry Harretos live down the street from Central Park. The couple is familiar with the orchestra’s summer concert series and has attended each performance when they appeared in their hometown.
“This is a great way to get the community out, there’s quite a few people here.” Paula said, as her husband went for popcorn, which was provided by the Griffith Lions Club.
Visitors of all ages packed the park. Although attendance numbers were hard to pin down, as people were constantly coming and going, a general estimate was more than 400 people.
The program included a wide variety of music, both pop and classical, during the free evening performance under the stars. Selections for the summer series varied, with a mix of patriotic songs, light classical pieces, and movie and Broadway tunes.
Visitors relaxed in many ways — comfy lawn chairs, blankets, pillows and, of course, snacks.
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Tabatha Quiroga of Dyer and six family members brought plenty of drinks to accompany a cheese-and-cracker platter, as well as a veggie-and-dip tray.
“I love listening to the orchestra,” Tabatha said. “I used to sing with them about seven years ago, and it’s interesting to be on the other side.”
In addition to Griffith’s Central Park, this year’s Summer Series Concerts were held in Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Hammond and Schererville.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune