POPS-New guidelines in place for tailgating

The Wagamon family enjoyed their first "Pops At The Post" concert at the Salibury Post from the back of their pickup truck. Jim and Lisa Wagamon with children Mackenzie and Shipley recently moved to the area from Delaware. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Gary Livengood prepares barbecue at the Pops at the Post. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.

People enjoy tailgating and even the view from a convertible at the Pops at the Post. Photo by Andy Mooney, Salisbury Post.

By Susan Shinn

For the Salisbury Post

As the Pops at the Post concert continues to grow, the number of tailgaters is increasing each year.

This year's concert is set for Saturday, June 5. To help ensure that everyone continues to have a great time at the concert, new guidelines are in place for tailgating.

Fisher Street will be closed from Church Street to the Wrenn House parking lot for vendors, making more room for tailgating in the Post employee and First Bank parking lot.

"There were actually people turned away from tailgating last year," says Ronnie Tomlinson, the chairman of the concert's board of directors.

"We want to keep the event family-friendly," Tomlinson continued. "As we have more tailgaters, the committee has put some recommendations together for this group."

The recommendations include:

- One tent per vehicle. Tents cannot exceed 10 feet by 10 feet, and must stay directly behind vehicles, with no overflow into other parking spaces.

- Cars or trucks only. No flatbed trailers or oversized vehicles.

- Because of line-of-sight problems last year, all tents and large umbrellas must be taken down before the performance starts, between 7:50 and 8 p.m.

- No pets.

"People are coming to relax and have fun and salute the military as a community," Tomlinson says. "That's where we want to keep the focus."

Personnel from Salisbury Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services will be present for the event. Officers from the Salisbury Police Department will be circulating through the crowd throughout the evening, offering their assistance.

A copy of the guidelines will be distributed to concert-goers when they arrive at the Post employee or First Bank parking lot.

Volunteers will be on hand to assist people arriving early and answer any questions.

Arrivals will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. or until lots are full.