Catch me outside? Delaware's new $100K-plus concert stage adds more 'professional' vibe

Rockford Park’s $100,000-plus new concert stage attracts an eclectic mix of music artists – from hip-hop to country – toentertain crowds in a free, weekly concert series in Wilmington this summer.

Friends of Wilmington Parks are partnering withDelaware State Parksto present this summer's concert series in Rockford Park.

The next show is June 30 with The Gretchen Emery Band, a rock 'n' roll and soul group led by a powerhouse female singer of the same name.

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The summer concert series, which started June 16, is held every Monday at 6:30 p.m. It ends on Aug. 11.

Here's what you need to know about this new Rockford Park concert stage, the rest of the summer lineup, and more.

How much did the Rockford Park concert stage cost?

The new Rockford Park concert stage, located near the Tower at Rockford Park, is featured on a hot summer day that topped 98 degrees in Wilmington on June 23, 2025. Kid Davis & the Bullets were slated to perform that evening, but the show got canceled due to the scorching heat.

The new stage costs approximately $130,000 and was funded by theFriends of Wilmington Parks(FOWP), according to Leslie Hubbard, executive director of the nonprofit. FOWP is in partnership with Wilmington State Parks (WSP), and WSP owns the Rockford Park concert stage, she added.

Hubbard said FOWP and WSP collaborated on designing the stage together. It took about three years for Friends of Wilmington Park to raise funds for the stage, and FOWP relied on multiple sources of funding, including Wilmington City Council memberNathan Field, as well as theHighlands Community Association, Hubbard said.Most of the stage funding came fromthe 2024 fiscalCommunity Reinvestment Fund, a capital grant program, that allocated $78,000 for the project.

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Rockford Park's new concert stage is an upgrade

The new stage is a significant improvement over the old one. It now features a roof to shield performers from rain. The stage is bigger at14 feet wide by 20 feet long, compared to the former stage, which was 9 feet wide by 12 feet long.

This means musicians now have more space to move around, and the larger stage provides a better view for the audience.

Hubbard said the new stage also provides better lighting, more storage space, and they can attract bands that have bigger groups.

"It just takes us into a much more professional level and allows musicians to be more comfortable, attendees to be more comfortable, and [enjoy] a nice experience," Hubbard said.

Bring your own food, or hit up a food truck

Wilmington Brew Works will have drinks for sale every Monday at the Rockford Park summer concert series through Aug. 11.

Park visitors are welcome to bring their food and have a picnic while attending the concerts. Or they can buy some grub from a food truck. Each week, a different food truck is on tap. Wilmington Brew Works will have beer for sale at each concert, too, Hubbard said.

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What happens when there's bad weather?

Sometimes bad weather, like rain or extreme heat, forces a show to be canceled. On June 23, temperatures were in the 90s and that caused the show with Kid Davis & the Bullets to get canceled hours in advance.

If more bad weather happens this summer, Hubbard said cancellation notices will be posted by 2 p.m. on concert days on FOWP’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

And don’t forget that you’re welcome to bring your own food and water, so be sure to stay cool and hydrated.

Director of Delaware State Parks talks humble beginnings

Matthew M. Ritter, director of Delaware State Parks, said he's "excited for the new concert stage" as Wilmington State Parks "have come a long way since being established in 1998. Ritter said the original stage was built by their maintenancecrew in 1999 and consisted of a small, elevated platform.

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The park director said he's thankful to "our incredible Friends with Wilmington State Parks" for a "beautiful" new stage. He added, "I don’t think we could ask for a better backdrop with the Rockford Tower in the background while you relax and listen to incredible musicians."

Rockford Park summer concert series 2025 lineup

This summer's Rockford Park concert lineup features music artists across a variety of genres, including funk, rock and others. Hubbard said the lineup was curated by Gable Music Ventures (producers of the Ladybug Music Festival) and Wilmington State Parks, along with input from FOWP.

Here's the schedule for the rest of this summer’s concert series:

June 30 at 6:30 p.m.: Gretchen Emery Band (rock 'n' roll, soul),

July 7 at 6:30 p.m.: Nic Snow (hip-hop, R&B, soul)

July 14 at 6:30 p.m.: What The Funk (dance, funk)

July 21 at 6:30 p.m.: The Blues Reincarnation Project (blues, funk, rock 'n' roll)

July 28 at 6:30 p.m.: Koser (alternative)

Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m.: Roberta Plant (country)

Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m.: Eljuri (rock)

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The Rockford Park summer concert series (2000 Lookout Drive, Wilmington) is held every Monday at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 11. The concerts are near the Tower. Concerts are free. Visit friendsofwilmingtonparks.org or destateparks.com/summer-concerts.

If you have an interesting storyidea, email lifestyle reporterAndre [email protected]. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, atdelawareonline.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: New Delaware concert stage is over $100K & gives Wilmington more fun