Freeman Stage kicks off summer concert series

The Freeman Stage in Selbyville has started its lineup of summer concerts, with a focus on social distancing and safety in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hundreds of people showed up to the venue’s opening night July 7 to see alternative rock group The Stims perform. The venue is laid out so that 97 groups of four people, called “pods,” can enjoy the show while being safely spread out on the field. All pods are at least six feet apart from each other.

Concert-goers must wear masks while entering, leaving and walking around the venue. However, masks are not required while inside a pod. 

Michelle Freeman, Carl M. Freeman Companies president and CEO, said she got the idea while reading a New York Times article. A park in Brooklyn, N.Y., had drawn circles on the ground to allow people to gather within a pod while socially distancing from other groups. Freeman then got to work applying this method to the Freeman Stage.

The venue is currently on a rolling two-week cycle. Instead of planning all of the concerts for the summer at one time like she usually would, Freeman is only planning two weeks at a time. She said this is both to see how people respond to the pods and to make sure everything is working properly. 

Freeman said the concerts are a great opportunity to be outside and experience the arts. She also found there was more freedom having an outdoor venue than a traditional theater, she said. 

“You’re able to sit under the stars and listen to music, to be with family members you know are safe. We’re encouraging everyone to come out and give it a try,” Freeman said. 

All of the upcoming concerts at the Freeman Stage still have tickets available. For information about the venue or to buy tickets, go to https://freemanstage.org.