By RONDA GREGORY
News & Journal Staff Writer
The Clarksburg Ampitheater, AKA “The AMP”, is once again ready for its summer season to explode with entertainment for kids and adults and all ages in between.
Located at Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent to the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Medical Center on Rt. 98 in Clarksburg, the AMP offers both free and major ticketed concerts along with free movie nights for all ages.
“The Amphitheater is great for the community because of its location, accessibility and the great entertainment it provides for them,” said Kaitlin Bishop, Recreation Coordinator for the City Parks of Clarksburg.
She said the AMP offers six Music in the Park events.Next Saturday evening’s show will feature Ryan Cain and the Ables.In addition, six Movies in the Park Series are on their summer fun roster.
“All are free!” Bishop exclaimed.
Regarding the free music events, Bishop remarked, “It used to seem like we just did country because we did so much of it. But as of last year, we started to have more different genres–kids’ entertainment, a rock group, contemporary Christian bands, and, of course, we still have country.”
As for Bishop’s personal favorites, she diplomatically stated, “I enjoy all genres.”
To name just a couple of the upcoming free concerts, they include Johnny Cochran and the Trailblazers and the Marshall Lowry Band.
The AMP has also scheduled three ticketed events. Two are still upcoming and they are KIDZ BOP KIDS: Life of the Party Tour on July 9 and the internationally known contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns on August 13.
Bishop reports they try to keep the ticketed concerts financially accessible, but that ticket cost is dependent upon the cost to bring in the entertainment.
“Ticket prices are in the range of $16 up to about $40,” she said.
The Movies in the Park Series are all kids movies now and start at sundown. Two popular ones of the six that will be shown this summer are “The Spongebob Movie” and “The Good Dinosaur.”
Bishop says they are considering adding some different types of movies for next year that the grown-ups will enjoy.
“We’re looking into date-type movies that would still be appropriate for kids,” she stated.
Bishop says while all the entertainment is great, the food is pretty good, too.: “We have on-site concessions that sell pretzels, funnel cakes and nachos … just items that are more snack-like. And we add on Chick-fil-A sandwiches and pizza for the major concerts.”
In addition to the AMP-sponsored offerings, people can rent the venue for their own events, such as weddings, Bishop said. The AMP features a 2,000-person capacity.
The venue usual gets about 100 to 150 people attending the music concerts and about 200 to 500 people for the movies series, Bishop reports. Major concerts are often sellouts; however, they would like to see more faces all their events.
“We’re always looking for a variety of people to come and check things out and see what we have to offer without leaving their community to do so,” Bishop stated. “This is something that is going on in their own backyard. It’s giving them the same opportunity that someone in a big city has. Bringing in this quality of entertainment to the city helps businesses, too; it grows the community where we live.”
For a complete and up-to-date schedule of the entertainment lineup or for more information about the events or for renting the AMP, visit clarksburgamp.com or call (304) 624-1655.
