Fridays ‘Funky’ once more
Bill Myers and Linda Pavlak are bringing music down from the mountain. The fundraising Funky Fridays music series they founded three year ago at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park has moved to Hood Mansion. The 15-week concert series begins May 27 on the front lawn of the historic mansion, located off Highway 12 at Pythian Road.
“We are pleased to secure this new location for this family-oriented event,” said Myers. “We welcome the opportunity to have Funky Fridays continue to benefit the remarkable parks in our community.”
The $10 outdoor concerts were such a big hit at Sugarloaf that the event outgrew the venue, and the tail end of the 2015 season was canceled.
The relocated series will be produced by Myers and Pavlak in conjunction with The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. “Our organization is honored to be involved with Funky Fridays,” said Melissa Kelley, SCRPF executive director. “Funds raised from this concert series will help support our parks, and the concert location also will introduce attendees to the historic landmark of Hood Mansion and the potential for improvements at this site.”
Myers and Pavlak said they will continue to support Sugarloaf by working with Team Sugarloaf to explore smaller live music events in the amphitheater.
In 2015, Sonoma County Regional Parks constructed a Bay Area Ridge Trail section at the Pythian Road entrance to Hood Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve. Regional Parks recently completed road improvements connecting this trail to the intersection of Highway 12 and Pythian Road.
The work includes a road crossing and signal modifications at the Pythian Road and Highway 12 intersection, which make it safer for Oakmont residents to walk to the new concert location.
“Many of our attendees live in Oakmont, and this new spot for the concerts offers easier access for them to continue enjoying live music in a beautiful outdoor setting,” Myers said.
Funds raised from the 2016 concerts will support projects related to Hood Mansion, Hood Mountain Regional Park, and other county parks projects in the Sonoma Valley.
Ticket prices remain $10 per person. Parking will be $10 per vehicle, or free for Regional Parks members with a parks pass. The band schedule and more details are available on the event website at funkyfridays.info and on the Sonoma County Parks’ website at sonomacountyparks.org.
