Outdoor music events abound during summer in Eau Claire, what with blues and the municipal band in Owen Park, shows on the Campus Mall, the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix Park, plus Summerfest, OAFA, and Taste of Eau Claire. But while Eau Claire is booming with outdoor music, its neighbor Altoona has almost nothing, so a few months ago a handful of its residents decided to do something about it.

Headed by Maurice McIntyre, the group is planning an outdoor music event for most of the day on August 16 in Tenth Street Park. They’re still looking for local bands to play the event and join the several food vendors of varying ethnicities and varieties.

“We’re hoping for it to be like International Fall Festival, only on a much smaller scale,” said Neil Bauer, one of the organizers. This will be the group’s first event, but Neil said they hope it can become more regular.

“Hopefully it’s a stepping stone for something that could happen on a weekly basis, we’re just seeing if there’s enough community interest,” he added. If you’re a band or vendor interested in joining, contact Neil at 308-2871 or Maurice at 828-7848.