Resembling ancient ruins, the Sylvan Amphitheater in Eagle Rock’s Yosemite Park, was constructed in 1931. Back then, there were cushioned tops for the stone seating.
Photo by Eastsider Staffer Brenda Rees
Eagle Rock—The 1931 Sylvan Amphitheater in Eagle Rock’s Yosemite Park has hosted parades, concerts and even a pillow fight. Now it is ready for a new chapter.
On Oct. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m., the bucolic hillside will hold the free outdoor concert Sylvan Sounds. Scheduled to perform are Jeff Parker and Jeremiah Chiu (as the Jeff Parker Expansion Duo), along with other to-be-announced artists. Scottie McNiece will DJ before and after the performances, which are being curated by Brian Akio Martinez and Noah Klein. Martinez programmed the Eagle Rock Music Festival from 2000 to 2015.
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Concert-goers are encouraged to bring blankets and picnics to enjoy the music, which Michael MacDonald, president of The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), describes as ambient jazz. TERA is an event sponsor.
Constructed out of stone rubble, the 1931 Sylvan Amphitheater in Eagle Rock’s Yosemite Park has been the site for countless graduations, musical performances and community events. It’s been unused for years, but an October 10 free concert may encourage a revival.
Photo by Eastsider Staffer Brenda Rees
“It’s a wonderful space that needs more activity,” said MacDonald, who envisions the amphitheater holding “Shakespeare in the Park” theater productions, a music series, dance and art programs, and family-friendly events.
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The amphitheater was a New Deal-era emergency employment bond project that also included the creation of a bathhouse for the nearby pool. Construction was speedy; in October 1931, only six months after the funds were approved, the amphitheater was ready for a Halloween event. Children and adults enjoyed ghost stories, dancing, a treasure hunt, a pillow fight and an evening bonfire.
For decades it hosted summer theater programs, recitals and high school graduations. However, starting in the 1970s, drug abuse, burglaries and harassment plagued Yosemite Park. In the following years, the mostly unused amphitheater saw more vandalism and destruction.
In 2004, the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock programmed an arts festival at the amphitheater.
The time is ripe for a comeback, said MacDonald. “We have this in our backyard, and I’m excited to see how this event can open the doors for a revival,” he said.
Construction was speedy for the creation of the Sylvan Amphitheater in Yosemite Park. In October 1931, only six months after the funds were approved, the amphitheater was ready for a Halloween event.
Photo courtesy of the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society
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