Attendance at Music Under the Stars back on the upswing

Three concerts into the 2012 season and Music Under the Stars has already reached nearly half of last season’s total attendance.

More 17,000 have attended the annual concert series this season compared to 8,500 at this time last year, according to Museum and Cultural Affairs Department officials with the City of El Paso.

The ban on alcohol at the Chamizal National Memorial Park last year during Music Under the Stars led to a dramatic drop in attendance from a season average of about 110,000 to 39,000.

The Museums and Cultural Affairs Department received feedback from the public that people were not attending last year because of the alcohol ban which led officials to reconsider that decision.

Concert-goers are now allowed to purchase beer or wine from the onsite vendor, Coconuts.

At the first concert, Coconuts had one beer station set up but has since expanded. MCAD officials said it is a quick line with never more than six to seven people in a line.

There will be no concert this Sunday but there will be a special performance from 7 to p.m. on July 4th with patriotic music provided by the El Paso Wind Symphony. Free 3-D fireworks glasses will be distributed starting at 6 p.m. at the Museum and Cultural Affairs Department tent while supplies last.

The 2012 Music Under the Stars lineup:

July 4 El Paso Wind Symphony (Patriotic/Fireworks) El Paso, TX

July 8 Yellow Dubmarine (Reggae Tribute to The Beatles) Baltimore, MD

July 15 The Grascals (Bluegrass) Nashville, TN

July 22 Sarah King and the Smoke Rings (Swing) Brooklyn, NY

July 29 Tropicalisimo Apache (Cumbia Tropical) El Paso, TX

August 5 The Big Easy (Motown) El Paso, TX

August 12 Mariachi Reyna de los Angeles (Mariachi) El Monte, CA