by Irene Luck

Are you looking for something relaxing to do after a full day of water sports on Lake Anna, or a way to unwind after a busy Saturday but you don’t want to have to get dressed up or drive too far?   Come listen to local musicians while socializing with friends, family and other lake visitors at the Sunset Concert Series.

Now in its fourth season, the Sunset Concert Series at Anna Point Marina is a free and family-friendly event that shouldn’t be missed. The concerts are the perfect event for you, your family and friends to enjoy a night at the lake. Local bands will provide the music while you enjoy a majestic sunset, sip on a summer beverage, and feast on a picnic-style dinner while you catch up with old friends and make new ones – all on the shores of beautiful Lake Anna.

With its lakefront pavilion, central location on Lake Anna and ample parking, Anna Point Marina is the ideal spot for this event. Although there are no public boat docks, you can anchor offshore and enjoy the concerts from the water. Picnic tables are situated within the pavilion itself and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets since seating at the picnic tables fills up quickly.  There is plenty of lawn near the pavilion to enjoy the concert. If you arrive early, stop into Fish Tales to buy a handful of fish food to feed the resident ducks, catfish and carp that call their docks home. Bathrooms are available at Lake Country Marine, and golf cart rides to them are available. If you’re lucky, Chuck Meeks, owner of Anna Point Marina, may be your chauffer!

The Lake Anna Business Partnership and member businesses have created the concerts as a way to bring community and businesses together in a fun and relaxing way. Concert-goers are able to purchase wine from area wineries, local beer and hard cider. Local food vendors are there to showcase their tasty offerings, and on occasion local shops are there selling t-shirts, souvenirs and other items. The first concert this season is scheduled in conjunction with another showcase of area businesses and crafters; Lake Fest and the Lake Anna Cornhole Tournament. Both will be held on May 6 in the Food Lion parking lot from 10am until 3pm.

The purpose of the Lake Anna Sunset Concert Series isn’t just to provide entertainment to area residents and visitors. The LABP provides our members in the business community a chance to get their businesses seen by potential clients.  Lake Anna has become a tourist destination and having regular events throughout the season provides something extra for visitors to do during their stay. The LABP also organizes an enjoyable and challenging Mini-Golf Tournament in the fall.

In addition, the Sunset Concerts highlight local non-profit businesses. Mike Higgins, the LABP’s Sunset Concert Series committee chairman, stated; “Last year, we partnered with the Friends of Lake Anna State Park, Louisa Animal Shelter, Louisa Arts Center, Louisa Humane Society and the Louisa Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers from each group host the beer and wine table for us. In addition to warm thanks for their efforts  in the Lake Anna community, the groups receive tips and contributions for their barkeeper services.  The Lake Anna Business Partnership also makes cash donations to each group to thank them for their hard work”.

The Sunset Concert Series has grown each year, with this season expanding to seven concert dates. Most of the concerts are scheduled for Saturday nights, except for the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends, which are on Sundays. Performing this season will be Karen Jonas on May 6, Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band on May 28, The Dave Tinney Band on June 17, Southern Velocity Band on July 8, The Unsuitables on August 5, Burnt Orange on September 3, and No Quick Fix will conclude the series on Saturday, October 7. Higgins relayed “We are fortunate to have partnered with Culpepper-based radio station SAM-FM 105.5. SAM began promoting the concerts last season, and we enjoy DJ Frank Wells emceeing the shows. Frank even incorporates band members into the radio spots. Having SAM involved has really raised our attendance.”

The Sunset Concerts are designed to be family-friendly. Outside food, drink and coolers are not permitted. No dogs other than service dogs are permitted. Please consume alcohol responsibly. Anyone disrupting the event or negatively impacting the attendees will be asked to leave. 

Anna Point Marina is located off Courthouse Road (Rt. 208) just north of the Route 208 Bridge into Spotsylvania County at 13721 Anna Point Lane, Mineral, VA (for those using a GPS).  The pavilion is at the end of the drive.

For more information or updates on the Lake Anna Sunset Concert Series, visit the group’s Facebook page at Lake Anna Sunset Concert Series.  To learn more about the Lake Anna Business Partnership or the other events sponsored by the group including its Spring Fling, visit its website at www.visitlakeanna.org.