Local authorities got a tribute band to start off a new concert series, which likewise celebrates a generally new public waterfront space.

Thursday denotes the beginning of Party at the Pier, a summerlong weekly musical extravaganza participating at Jackson Street Pier in midtown Sandusky.

The presentation show — highlighting Parrots of the Caribbean, a salute to Jimmy Buffett — happens 7 p.m. on the new Erie County Community Foundation Stage.

“Live music overlooking Sandusky Bay. Doesn’t that sound amazing?” city commission clerk McKenzie Spriggs said.

Sandusky’s government “is producing Thursday night concerts in addition to the incredible four shows the Lange Trust is also doing at the Jackson Street Pier,” Spriggs said.

“The city is hoping to activate a weeknight to bring exciting activities to our residents and support our business community,” she added. “We hope to make Thursday night feel like a weekend night in downtown, abuzz with foot traffic and people enjoying a Sandusky summer.”

Authorities cooperated with Advantage Entertainment, a similar organization planning Ohio Bike Week, for this series.

“We are trying to elevate the live music experience in downtown Sandusky,” Spriggs said. “Because we don’t have experience, in-house, signing with bands, producing sound and lighting, etc., we wanted an entertainment partner with this expertise. Advantage Entertainment put in their qualifications, and we know (company president) Steve Ernst and his team will do a great job.”

In an optimal world, authorities wanted to put on this kind of series last year, right when Jackson Street Pier appeared. However, with exacting pandemic-related limitations still set up, like prohibitions on bigger social affairs, they proved unable.

Regardless of happening one year after the fact, they’re actually excited to honor a reactant project with free shows.

“As we emerge from COVID, the pent-up demand for outdoor activities gives our city the perfect opportunity to both showcase and promote the Jackson Street Pier,” city ex officio mayor Dick Brady said.

When considering in the Lange Trust series, Brady showed city authorities contributed north of $180,000 for mid year wharf programming “that will be appealing to every sector of our community.”

This further adds to a $8 million public investment, which focused on reshaping Jackson Street Pier into a premier gathering spot while likewise improving leaving utilizes there to, principally, keep up with public access.

“The pier will welcome residents and visitors in a setting that highlights this transformed public space,” Brady said.