Ice House Brass to Christen Fort Band Stand

Fort Concho will dedicate its latest addition, a reconstructed Post Bandstand, with a performance by the Ice House Brass at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The bandstand is on the west end of the Parade Ground near South Oakes Street and East Avenue D.

First listed as a priority by the Fort Concho Board in 2001, the bandstand project was resurrected by fort board member Greg Stephens. Stephens coordinated donated labor from the Home Builders Association of San Angelo along with many other donations of funds and materials. Major funding for the project came from the Fort Concho Foundation and the estate of the late Van Carson, a former member of the Fort Concho Foundation Board. Additional support came from the late Lowell Stephens of Alamogordo, N.M.

“This project fulfills a goal set by the fort board years ago and restated in 2010,” Stephens said. “This bandstand will be a signature addition to the fort’s ever-improving appearance as we edge closer to our goal of full restoration.”

The dedication will feature an artillery salute from the fort’s living history unit plus bagpipes by Chris Morgan. The Ice House Brass will have the honor of playing the first music heard from the new bandstand, which reflects an accurate copy of the original erected in the 1880s.

The new bandstand will play a central role in this year’s Christmas at Old Fort Concho on Dec. 2-4. The festival is the fort’s largest annual event and fundraiser.

For more information, call Fort Concho at 325-481-2646 or visit fortconcho.com