The Concert on Central Avenue event is returning to Eureka.
The city, which stopped running a series of concerts in the Old Town area in 2021, will hold the concert at 6 p.m. June 14 on Central Avenue between Dreyer and Frisco avenues and Thresher Drive.
Eureka moved the annual summer concert series, which was called block parties, to the Spur, 394 S. Central Ave., the last two years. When the concerts were relocated, city officials said the move was made for safety and because more parking was available in the area, which is near Legion Park.
Lizzie Roberds, Parks and Recreation Department supervisor, said she is excited that the event is returning to Central Avenue.
“It’s like we’re kind of going back to our roots of what we used to do,” she said. “I’m very excited.”
The concert will commemorate the city’s incorporation on April 7, 1954.
Mayor Sean Flower said Eureka will only hold one Concert on Central this year. The city had held two to three concerts during the summer.
“We’re trying to make it one bigger event where people will go – kind of like the marquee event,” Flower said. “It seemed like when we tried to do more than that, the number of people attending would start to dwindle. We’re trying to pick a good weekend, get some good weather, and get everybody down there.”
Roberds said outside food or drink will not be allowed at the concert. The city had allowed people to bring food and drinks as long as the drinks were not in glass bottles to past Concert on Central events.
“We won’t have any outside vendors when we’re there on Central,” she said. “We’re trying to support the local businesses there on Central. They can hit up (Red Door Liquor and Cigars) to get a couple of beverages or grab a pizza from (Joe Boccardi’s), get a dessert at Sarah’s, all that good stuff.”
Roberds said the portion of Central Avenue where the concert will be held will be closed. She said the closure times will be announced closer to the date of the concert on the city’s website, eureka.mo.us.
Roberds said St. Louis-area singer Trixie Delight will perform during the concert.
“Trixie Delight plays everything back from the ’70s to now,” Roberds said. “There’s a lot of party music and high-energy jams. She’s been known around St. Louis for a few years now.”
City officials said depending on how this year’s event goes, Eureka may continue to hold one Concert on Central event every year.