The Port of Skagit will host its first summer concert on July 25 at the SWIFT Center as it marks its eighth anniversary of owning this historic property.

 

“The Port has owned the property for eight years now and there has been important work accomplished to date, especially around public access and outdoor recreation,” stated Port of Skagit Commission President Melanie Mankamyer.  “This summer concert series provides more opportunity for people to engage with this beautiful campus and appreciate this space as a tremendous community asset.”

 

The Port of Skagit acquired the former Northern State Hospital (NSH) campus in Sedro-Woolley from the State in 2018 after the community voiced a strong desire for the property to transition to local ownership.  Since taking ownership, the Port prioritized a plan for restoring public access, which includes public events, outdoor activities and amenities that complement the campus.

 

The free concert series builds on the success of the Port’s first outdoor concert held last year on the property.  The July 25th Music in the Park @ SWIFT event will feature Nonstop to Nashville, an energetic country music cover band with local roots in Sedro-Woolley.  Food trucks, beer garden, facepainting for kids, and the wide-open vistas round out the offerings, welcoming the community to this special and significant place.

 

In addition to concert events, public trails continue to be developed on the campus in partnership with United General Hospital District 304, Skagit Trail Builders, Washington Trails Association, volunteers, contractors and the Port of Skagit team.  History events like the 5th Annual Remembering Northern State Public History Day hosted by the Skagit County Historical Museum invites the public to learn more about the history of the hospital operations, the Spanish-Colonial architecture and the Olmsted Brothers master-planned landscape of the campus.

 

Music in the Park @ SWIFT begins at 5:30pm and takes place in a grassy area on the east end of the campus off Thompson Drive.  Two more concert events are scheduled on August 22nd featuring North Sound Soul and a very special outdoor concert by the Skagit Symphony on September 12th.

 

Visit www.portofskagit.com/music for more details, or check out the Facebook event page at  https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ba6WBvo97/.

 

 

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