Familiar faces on stage for second rescheduled Charles City Party in the Park, Friday, July 26th

To The Press

Charles City area residents and former Endless Summer band members Gene Parson, Med Lewis, Bruce Carr and Gary Parson will be on stage with their new group, “Endless Edition,” at a rescheduled Party in the Park event on Friday, July 26th.

A summertime tradition now in its 21st year, Party in the Park is organized by Main Street Charles City and held in Central Park from 5-9 p.m. Originally scheduled for June 21, this particular party was reset due to inclement weather, and is one of four PIP events this year, with the finale scheduled for Aug. 2nd.

In addition to free admission and live music, each Party offers food and beverage vendors in the park, a beer garden, various activities and display booths.

“The family-friendly event is a great way to connect with friends and neighbors, unwind with work colleagues and entertain guests and visitors,” said Mark Wicks, Charles City community development director.

Endless Edition features the best of 1960-80s rock ’n’ roll and country music, from the Beach Boys and Eagles, to Alabama and George Strait. The band specializes in providing smooth vocal harmonies and detailed instrumentals for both listening and dancing pleasure.

“Their unique blend of guitar, keyboard and saxophone showmanship has entertained northeast Iowa with golden rock rhythms for fans of all ages,” Wicks said.

The band included members of the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as Midwest All-Musician Association Hall of Fame. Many of them will be familiar faces to a lot of folks, with the aforementioned former members of the very popular Charles City band Endless Summer.

Gene Parson provides lead guitar and vocals, Lewis plays bass guitar, Floyd resident Carr is on keyboard, saxophone and vocals, and the Clarksville father-son duo of Gary and Chris Parson play percussion and vocals, and lead guitar and vocals respectively.

They are joined by Rick Anderson of Grundy Center on drums and vocals, and Van Switzer of Conrad, who does the sound as well as some bass guitar and vocals.

Activities planned in the park that evening include the Cambrex Splash Chair, facepainting, a Floyd County Museum Tractor Display, pedal cars, barrel train rides, Ring Toss and yard games.

Food vendors scheduled to be on hand July 26 include the new Filipino Foodie, Hy-Vee Grille, Shiver N Squirrel, The Cookie Doughtique, and the Rotary Popcorn Wagon, along with possibly a couple of others.

PIP Tokens will be used in the park to purchase food, beverages or take part in some of the activities. They are available for $1 each from the Main Street Charles City tent near the center of the park, or from red apron-wearing token sellers wandering around the grounds.

The orange tokens are good at all four PIP events this year, as well as in future years. Leftover tokens from 2023 are also still good, but any dated PIP tokens prior to last year are not.

Making the July 26 Party in the Park possible is presenting sponsor Floyd County Medical Center, along with co-sponsors Cambrex, Edward Jones, Valero Renewables, Hometown Dental, Synergy Physical Therapy and the Charles City Press.

Main Street Charles City is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization committed to preserving, enhancing and making downtown Charles City the place to be. For more information, contact the MSCC Office at 401 North Main St., 641-228-2335 or email info@charlescitychamber.com.