Future Neenah will change its midday Out to Lunch concert series at Shattuck Park from a weekly occasion to a monthly event.
The new format reflects evolving workforce dynamics and will enable Future Neenah to invest more in evening entertainment.
“For two decades, Out to Lunch has created a space where people could pause, connect and celebrate summer together,” Future Neenah Executive Director Brent Bowman said. “We’re incredibly proud of what this series has meant to our community. As we look ahead, we’re excited to reimagine how we bring people together in ways that reflect today’s downtown and help set the stage for the future.”
Attendance data, community trends, programming priorities and workforce patterns contributed to the decision. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become more common, reducing the number of downtown employees who attend the lunchtime concerts.
Out to Lunch series consists of three concerts
The Out to Lunch series will continue but with only one concert each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Shattuck Park. The 2026 schedule is as follows:
Future Neenah debuts pop-up music series
Future Neenah will introduce pop-up musical performances throughout the warmer months, extending beyond the traditional June-August timeframe. Featuring duos and trios in downtown locations, the new format will showcase local businesses and gathering spaces including Alta Alley and Gateway Park.
“With fewer lunch concerts, we’re able to invest in even bigger and better evening entertainment experiences,” Bowman said.
Pop-up dates and performers will be announced on Future Neenah’s Facebook page and website.
Summer kickoff concert
Summer evening concerts
All the concerts will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shattuck Park.
In event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held at DoubleTree by Hilton Neenah, 123 E. Wisconsin Ave.
End-of-summer celebration
All concerts are free to attend and will feature food trucks. Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X at @DukeBehnke.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Future Neenah cuts back on midday concerts in favor of evening events
Reporting by Duke Behnke, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
