Bands on Bricks, TDLC Cruise Night reflect community pride

There was a feel-good vibe pulsing through the area Friday night and if you were paying attention you might have felt it all the way from Aurora to Hampton.
Both communities were hosting their own versions of summer-ending celebrations, with A-Town wrapping up year four of its popular Bands on the Bricks summer concert series and Hampton marking the 20th anniversary year for the TDLC Cruise Night.
It was a picture-perfect night to do anything outside for starters, with cooler temps and a light breeze setting the tone for a last blast of summer fun. For those who took in both gigs, and there were likely many, the sentiment was very much the same at both ends of the short commute.
Aurora’s Bands on the Bricks summer concert series has continued to grow and mature as a staple on the local calendar. The crowds this year on six consecutive Friday nights averaged between 300 and 400, though there was no official head count. What is official is the conclusion that this has become a very enjoyable event for people of all ages, regardless of what kind of music you prefer. It’s not a concert, per say, but more of an evening out with friends with live, quality music in a very cool, familiar venue.
Sara Sutherland and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce ventured into unchartered territory four years ago, but they stuck to their initial vision and have created a family-friendly environment. The music is excellent, but it’s also played at a decibel level that lets you enjoy conversation with olds friends and new, which is every bit as much of the appeal as the music itself.
Sutherland observed a key motivator in this week’s wrap up story, and that is that giving young families a sense of connection is vitally important to making them feel part of and want to stay in Aurora. That’s also a great way to encourage some of those newcomers to engage, volunteer and be part of the community in other ways.
Seven miles down Highway 34, Roger Bamesberger was all smiles Friday in Hampton, watching his hometown almost double in size for an event he created and has nurtured for 20 years. It’s a quasi car show, though Bamesberger is quick to tell you that it’s not a car competition so much as a good excuse to showcase classic vehicles while enjoying some genuine hometown hospitality.
The atmosphere Friday was upbeat, reflecting Bamesberger’s hope that someone might like what they see so much that they decide to make Hampton their home. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but regardless he’s created an event that gives anyone with a connection to Hampton reason to be proud.
On both counts, community spirit was on full display Friday night, marking the end of summer in style.
Kurt Johnson