Cover Image: Provided by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Concerts in the Park, a 10-week summer series held in Big Spring Park, officially kicks off tonight.

Arts Huntsville and the City of Huntsville’s Parks and Recreation Department join forces each year to make these events free to the community.

This year’s opening night promises to be memorable, as the concert will be followed by Huntsville’s first-ever drone show.

The drone show, in which 300 drones will move through the night sky in a synchronized display, will be presented by Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE), a local aerospace engineering and analysis firm.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of INTUITIVE’s founding.

“When we were considering how we wanted to celebrate our anniversary, it felt natural for us to involve the community,” said INTUITIVE Corporate Communications Lead, Nikki Ficken. “INTUITIVE is dedicated to making a positive difference where we work, live, and play, so we wanted to provide an unforgettable experience, not only for our organization but for the local area.”

The City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville worked together to ensure that all necessary approvals and permits were obtained in advance of the drone show.

Today marks, to the day, INTUITIVE’s anniversary.

Hal Brewer and Rey Almodóvar founded the company on June 3, 1999.

The two men, who were both working for the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command at the time, saw an opening in the market to provide solutions to the Department of Defense.

Rey worked from his dining room table in the beginning, often not stopping until the early hours of the morning. The two-person team did $40,000 in sales their first year.

Today, INTUITIVE is an award-winning company of over 550 employees.

“From day one, Rey and I were determined to build a world-class, go-to engineering and analysis firm that would become renowned in the aerospace and defense industry,” said Hal.

INTUITIVE is excited to celebrate this milestone with their employees, whether they have been with the company for decades or just recently joined.

The INTUITIVE team will be downtown tonight alongside the Huntsville community to usher in the 2024 season of Concerts in the Park.

Monday’s musical guest will be Unique Live Band, a local rhythm and blues group.

“Unique Live Band can create a soulful dance party out of thin air,” said local songwriter and producer Steven Jackson. “They have that ‘unique’ energy that brings the whole community together … and up on its feet.”

Concerts in the Park will be held every Monday evening, throughout the summer. Rock, folk, R&B, country, and pop music will all be played over the course of the 10-week concert series, ensuring that there’s something for everyone.

“Concerts in the Park is Huntsville’s summer soundtrack,” says Allison Dillon-Jauken, Executive Director of Arts Huntsville. “Every Monday evening, Big Spring Park will transform into a stage for rising stars and beloved local bands. Plus, with delicious food trucks on-site, it’s the perfect way to start each week and connect with the community.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for Monday evening’s concert and drone show. Both events are free of charge. Leashed pets are welcome.

A lineup of this year’s performers at the Concerts in the Park series can be found here.