Music in the Park: "Celebrating America"

Join us for our annual summer concert series Music in the Park with the theme “Celebrating America.” Free concerts will be held in June, July, and August on the 1874 Courthouse lawn.

This year America celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Listen to mixtures of Americana music over the years from the 19th century to the present. Join the community as they did in the past to enjoy evenings of great musical entertainment at Historic Washington State Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on. 

June 20—Frontier Brigade Band

Frontier Brigade Band is from the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. They seek to preserve the musical heritage of America's oldest and most prestigious military bands. The Frontier Brigade Band performs music of musical compositions and arrangements from The American Brass Band Movement (1840-1880). 

July 3—Stewart Family 

The Stewart Family is a family band from Many, Louisiana that plays a variety of American and bluegrass music. Come and enjoy as they take you through several favorites of Americana string music. The is evening will be part of entire weekend of American 250 celebrations at the park. 

August 15—McWilliams Family and Music Competition

McWilliams Family Band is a local family from Southwest Arkansas that plays a mixture of Americana folk and bluegrass music. They have entertained neighbors and friends alike at church gatherings and community events. They also run the Gap Mercantile Store in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. 

In addition, we will host a competition allowing musicians and soloists to compose and perform their own original work with some aspect of “America” and its 250 year history as the topic. Area judges will award prizes at the end of the evening.  Applications for the contest can be received by calling the Park Visitor Center at 870-983-2684. Applications to perform must be postmarked by August 1, 2026. 

The event is supported in part by City of Washington Tourism, Bobbie Arnold Atkinson Foundation, Tyson Foods, Farmers Bank and Trust, Washington Grace Cottage, Hempstead County Historical Society, and Historic Washington State Park.