Frankfort’s summer event calendar is set, and the city is moving ahead with a concert series that begins Friday, May 29. Frankfort has added plans for more neighborhood block parties, and leads into a busy Fourth of July celebration as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary year. City Community Development Director Kimberly Black said contracts are signed and final details are being locked in ahead of next week’s promotional rollout.
Summer plans
Black said the 2026 summer concert series will again anchor downtown activity, but the schedule has shifted because of school graduation dates. “It’s going to be on a Friday due to graduation,” Black said, noting the first concert is set for Friday, May 29. She said there will be two concerts in June, none in July, two in August, one in September, and a final show on Sept. 26, weather permitting.
Black said the city is also taking sponsorships for concerts and movies in the park through next week. She said the events depend on support from the redevelopment commission and private sponsors. “We couldn’t do it without the help,” Black said, referring to the mix of public and private backing.
Downtown impact
Black said the city’s goal is not just to provide entertainment, but to support downtown businesses and strengthen community ties. “It’s a vessel for growth for a downtown district,” she said, adding that the events are designed to bring people together while encouraging spending at local shops, restaurants, gas stations and vendors.
She said organizers try to keep the food lineup as local as possible. “We try to keep it as local as possible to give our local food vendors the opportunity,” Black said. She also said the concerts draw a wide range of attendees, including visitors from outside the area who travel from as far as south of Indianapolis to catch favorite bands or make a weekend of it.
Black said the concert series has grown steadily since it began, and that the crowds still surprise her at times. “I knew it would take a minute to kind of get going and get up and running,” she said. “But some of the concerts surprise me with how many people.”
Parks and events
Black said the city is also preparing for the Easter egg hunt, which she said uses between 10,000 and 12,000 eggs and relies on community volunteers. She said park staff are looking for help throughout the spring with events and cleanup work.
She said new ideas this year include block parties inside smaller parks, as well as continued community connection days at Old Stoney. Black said the city is also exploring murals, sculptures, and updated signage for downtown and gateway areas.
The city’s plans include a kickoff to the nation’s 250th anniversary during Memorial Day weekend, along with a traveling memorial planned in coordination with the VFW. Black said the city expects the Fourth of July celebration to be especially busy this year.
Growth and housing
Black said her focus remains on economic development, with an emphasis on creative approaches to growth. She said the city continues to balance business development, housing needs and quality-of-life improvements. “We know we have a housing need,” she said, pointing to a feasibility study the city has already used when talking with developers.
Black said Frankfort also needs workers to support continued growth. “We need those people to come in our community and help it grow,” she said.
The city’s annual State of the City report is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Frankfort Community Public Library’s Skanta Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. The event will also be livestreamed on Hoosierland TV.
