LEWISTON, N.Y. — As warmer temperatures start to sneak in, you might be itching for those summer days, which bring with them summer concerts.

Planning for these events is long underway.

“We plan for our park season year round,” explained Dave Wedekindt, the vice president for Artpark and Company, Inc.

The job never stops, especially when you’re in the concert planning business.

“The planning actually for the next season is happening in the current season,” Wedekindt added.

Wedekindt helps put together the concert series in Lewiston’s Artpark, which runs from May to September.

“People [...] have this impression that you just you decide who you want to have here and then you just call them up or send them an email and then they just come,” said Wedekindt.

But between money, artists’ tour schedules and audience demand, there’s a lot more that needs to be done.

“It's the kind of business that you learn by doing,” Wedekindt said.

While that brings its fair share of fun, it’s also a big responsibility.

“We're not only entertaining people, we're educating them," said Wedekindt. "We're giving artists opportunities. We're bringing new people to the area.”

Each year, Artpark’s concerts alone bring in about 150,000 people and make an over $13 million economic impact, but you can only plan for so much.

“Every event is a gamble," said Wedekindt. “Here, with primarily the outdoor venues, you're always at the mercy of Mother Nature.”

Adding on to that are issues that can happen with artists last-minute.

It keeps Wedekindt on his toes.

“It's never easy, but when it works out it's like the most magical thing in the world,” Wedekindt explained.

It's something that everyone can experience, with ticket prices ranging from free to around $100.

“That moment where everything connects...it's magic," Wedekindt added. "I think any of us that work in this business really enjoy that piece of it.”

While this season’s shows haven’t started yet, Wedekindt is ready for his team’s hard work to bring people a special experience.

“We succeed by moving it forward, and giving the next generation a place to come and experience these events and get as excited about the arts as we are and remind us why we do this," he said.

With many stagehands and other employees involved with tours finding other jobs during the pandemic, the entertainment industry is dealing with shortages there.

That impacts how many bands can tour and how often, at a certain time.