County Preparing To Possibly Host Music Under Stars At Ascarate

A season after attendance plummeted because of a ban on alcohol at Chamizal National Park for Music Under the Stars, the city is considering moving the popular summer concert series to the new and improved county-owned Ascarate Park.

Although the item was ultimately postponed two weeks from today’s Commissioners Court agenda, the possibility of moving Music Under the Stars to Ascarate Park and lifting the alcohol ban was the talk of Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting.

“The city has asked me to postpone this item for two weeks,” County Judge Veronica Escobar said. “But I hope it happens!”

Escobar said she hopes the city follows through with plans to move Music Under the Stars to Ascarate.

“I’m very excited,” Escobar said. “We’ve made great investments in Ascarate Park. Over the last five years we’ve invested quite a few million dollars in the park. It’s now a clean site. We’d like to lay down sod for Music Under the Stars.”

Escobar said if the county can attract the nearly 30-year-old summer concert series to Ascarate, it would return to its original form after last year’s big changes at the Chamizal.

“Attendance diminished because folks were not allowed to bring a bottle of wine or some beer with them as they put their blanket on the grass and listened to some great music,” said Escobar, who said bringing alcohol would be allowed at Ascarate.

Commissioner Sergio Lewis thinks hosting Music Under the Stars could be the start of a resurgence at Ascarate Park.

“It’ll be a great event,” Lewis said. “We have so much potential out there. We’re preparing Ascarate Park for not only that, but any future events.”

Escobar is looking forward to the possible partnership with the city.

“It would be a great partnership and really a natural alliance for the city and county to get together and bring an event that is historic and families have looked forward to every summer,” she said. “I certainly have.”

Mayor John Cook said although the item was postponed on Monday, the possibility of moving Music Under the Stars to Ascarate is still solid, although a move to Fort Bliss is also being considered.