Save the Date for Music and Fun with Babaloo At Rock Island’s Lincoln Park Thursday
Rock Island Public Library brings acclaimed family performer Babaloo to Rock Island’s Lincoln Park bandshell for a free concert on 10:30 am on Thursday, July 15.
The event, part of the library’s Reading Colors Your World summer activities, is free and open to all ages. Babaloo concerts are a blend of music and comedy, and usually run under one hour. Families should bring lawn chairs or other seating, and social distance as needed. There is no rain date.
Babaloo, who hails from Missouri, offers a riotous blend of wacky tunes, antics, and activities to keep audiences energized and laughing. His concerts feature singing and stomping, dancing and shouting, bean-bag bopping, bubble-busting, and bucket-beating – whatever it takes to keep kids and families moving together. Babaloo shows are fast-paced, high-energy, and interactive (and be forewarned, very loud at times.) The entertainer plays over 300 events a year, at events ranging from St. Louis to Albuquerque.
Babaloo once went by Rob and lived a normal life in the suburbs of Saint Louis. Rob piddled away his adult years building museum exhibits, selling tires, and counting paddlefish. He even wore a tie and acted like an important corporate marketing executive for a while. He played in grown-up bands in his spare time, trying to satisfy the entertainer within, wondering why the crowds never looked up to him. Then one day, he had an epiphany – he would find an audience that was forced to look up to him. So he changed his name to Babaloo and started entertaining kids.
Today, Babaloo has more fun than ever, playing for kids and their parents across the country. When not Babalooing, he hangs out in Washington, Missouri and tries to keep up with his five kids. He finds peace in the streams, rivers and lakes of his Ozarks home and counts the stars in the night sky with his lovely wife, Doris.
Submitted performer photo attached.
The library’s Reading Colors Your World summer reading challenges run through July 31. The goal-based reading reward programs encourage adults, children and teens to catch up on reading for fun, reduce summer learning loss, and connect to a lifelong pastime. To enter, visit the Library’s Beanstack webpage, download the app, or get the print reading log from the library or via the library website. All reading from June 1 through July 31 counts against challenge goals.
For summer reading and event details, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org. More information is also available at 309-732-READ, and on library social media channels. All activities are open to the public and provided at no extra charge.
