Immanuel Lutheran Communities’ annual Summer Concert Series for 2018 kicked off on Wednesday, July 11 with a wonderful performance by storyteller and singer/songwriter Jack Gladstone. The Buffalo Hill Terrace courtyard was full of residents, families, and guests of all ages. Over the years, these concerts have become events where the wider Flathead Valley community joins the Immanuel community for music, snacks, and socialization during our beautiful Flathead Valley summers.
Many of our residents still enjoy going out to events and performances. However, it’s hard for others to go to as many events as they’d like. Getting in and out of the car can be difficult, and some venues aren’t very senior-friendly because of stairs, uncomfortable or wrong-height seating, or long distances between parking and event space. So when we bring artists to campus, we bring live music to residents who couldn’t hear it otherwise.
But the concerts are about much more than that. Last night, many residents had family members present. In fact, my own parents were there with my aunt, visiting my grandfather (a Buffalo Hill Terrace resident). They were far from the only ones; the crowd ranged in age from elementary-school-aged children to some of the Terrace’s oldest residents—who are approaching 100! The outdoor summer concerts allow for easy mingling and snacking while listening to the music. This makes it an ideal environment for families who want to spend time together.
The Summer Concert Series is also about our connection with the wider Flathead Valley community. We advertise these concerts widely, and people with no prior connection to our campus sometimes visit us for the first time when they come to hear a concert. It’s a good opportunity to see how much fun a retirement community can be. When guests visit our campus for the concerts, they see neighbors enjoying each other’s company, families getting to know the friends of their loved ones who live at the Terrace, and residents taking in the music from their patios and balconies. Guests also get to enjoy snacks provided by our wonderful dining team (last Wednesday’s cheese ball was particularly delicious).
The Immanuel Foundation staff thoroughly enjoyed the Jack Gladstone concert (and we’re still talking about the cheese ball), and we’ll be back for all the rest. We’d love to meet you, so be sure to stop by our table to pick up some Foundation swag and register to win a $50 Amazon gift card. We’re also selling raffle tickets for a handmade queen-size quilt. Tickets are $5 or $20 for five, and proceeds benefit the altar furnishings for our new chapel.
The next concert is Stick and String at 7pm on Wednesday, July 25. We hope to see you there!
