05/07/2026
Greetings, friends and neighbors.
As the person who produces the concerts at Millennium Plaza, I want to take a moment to speak openly and from the heart about what’s been happening along our lakefront—and why it truly matters.
First and foremost, I want to be very clear: I had no involvement in the decision to remove the fountain. Sadly, after years of weather and wear, the fountain had fallen into such disrepair that restoring it would have cost several hundred thousand dollars. I remember when I first set up with my tour boat and the fountain was working—it was absolutely spectacular. But like so many cities across our state, we’re facing real budget challenges, and the city ultimately determined that repairing the fountain wasn’t the best use of taxpayer dollars.
When I first came to the plaza years ago, it was largely unused. There were no tables, no chairs, no public restrooms—no real reason for people to gather or linger. It was a beautiful space waiting for a reason to come alive.
That’s why I started Live at the Lakefront.
The concert series began as a way to keep my employees working during the summer months, when weather often sidelines our tour boat, but it quickly became something much bigger—a way to bring life, music, and connection to a space that deserved it. I pay the city a fair rate to use the plaza and share a portion of the ticket revenue, because I believe in reinvesting directly into the place we all love.
This year, I’ve personally furnished the plaza with all-new furniture. There are tables and chairs in the upper area near the statues—an area many people don’t even realize exists. I provide public restrooms every day of the week, except for four hours on Friday and Saturday nights during the shows. My team and I also clean and care for the plaza daily, helping ensure it stays beautiful so our parks department—working hard with limited resources—can focus elsewhere.
As we enter our fourth season, costs have risen everywhere. But thanks to incredible sponsors, I haven’t raised ticket prices by a single dollar. Even more importantly, we’ve been able to donate hundreds of tickets to every show to veterans, local charities, and community groups—because this music belongs to everyone.
I truly wish I could make the concerts free, like in some nearby towns. But as a private business—not a taxpayer-funded entity—I simply can’t. That said, there’s a gorgeous spot next to the DNR where anyone can sit, relax, and listen to the music at no cost. Seeing families, couples, and friends gathered there, enjoying the evening together, means the world to me.
We are blessed with one of the most beautiful parks on the lake. All I’m trying to do is help make it more inviting, more joyful, and more alive—for all of us.
In a time when negativity can feel overwhelming, I hope we can come together, celebrate our city, our lakefront, and each other. Music has a rare and powerful way of uniting people of all backgrounds, and that’s what these concerts are truly about.
Let’s enjoy the summer. Let’s enjoy the music. And let’s enjoy this beautiful community we share.
