June 2024

We are excited for summer, and we are considering last month’s Rib Burn Off, the unofficial kick-off to the season. A personal favorite sign of summer is the annual installation of the flower baskets throughout our City. We are grateful to our Service Department for taking pride in ensuring Willoughby looks its best for the summer season. This month, the fun continues as we kick off our summer concert series at Osborne Park and downtown Willoughby.

The Osborne Park concert series has been well received since we started in 2021, and we have added a concert each year. This summer, we will host four: June 12, July 10, July 17, and August 14. These concerts are on Wednesdays from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, and food trucks and a beer/wine tent are open starting at 5:30 pm.

For the downtown Willoughby gazebo concerts, our team decided to start the series earlier this year with the first Thursday concert on June 20 and concerts scheduled each Thursday from 7 pm – 9 pm through August 15. This slight shift in dates allows us to have some rain dates at the end of August should Mother Nature not cooperate and we need to cancel a concert. Please note there will not be a concert on July 4 – but there will be our annual Fireworks display! Check out the concert lineup on our website and Facebook page.

Recognizing the community’s enthusiasm for live music and outdoor gatherings, the City has invested in a state-of-the-art mobile stage, which will debut this summer! This new addition will enhance flexibility and allow various performances in different locations. Its inaugural use was during the Rib Burn-Off and will be used at our Osborne Park concert series.

We are happy to welcome new businesses to Willoughby recently, including the much-anticipated Willoughby House, a bed and breakfast featuring Julia’s 1902, a fine dining restaurant offering a sophisticated yet approachable dining experience with various options made from locally sourced ingredients.

Additionally, the Tricky Tortoise Brewing Company has opened in the former Willoughby Brewing Company space, breathing new life into this iconic location. With the focus on craft beers, the restaurant will offer a simple, straightforward pub menu.

Finally, we want to remind everyone of a few “good neighbor” behaviors. One is to remember to keep all dogs leashed when in public spaces. Some adults and many children are nervous around pets they are unfamiliar with. Also, if your pet has an accident, please clean up after them.

We also encourage our residents to follow city ordinances regarding the operation equipment and tools during early morning hours. Domestic power tools may be used starting at 7:00 am on weekdays and 8:30 am on weekends. Also, please remember to dispose of grass clippings and yard waste properly. These practices and other property maintenance ordinances aim to enhance our property values and maintain the quality of life in our City.

Have a great summer!