Joliet Area Historical Museum adapts rooftop concerts to COVID-19 restrictions

The Joliet Area Historical Museum will hold its second rooftop concerts this weekend, making do where it can under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The museum has set up table seating, asked people to register before coming and is allowing people to bring in carry-out restaurant food as it adapts to state limits on what it can do.

"We looked at the patio restaurant model to do this," said museum Director Greg Peerbolte.

The rooftop concerts previously had been called off through July. Adapting to the restaurant model was a way for the museum to get restarted along with the outdoor tours that began this month at the Old Joliet Prison.

Peerbolte expects the museum will be able to open again to visitors if Illinois moves into Phase Four of its reopening plan on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Rooftop Acoustic Series will feature Phil Angotti on Friday and The Hepkats on Saturday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. both days with performances starting at 6 p.m.

Cost is $10 with preregistration strongly suggested, Peerbolte said, because of the need to limit attendance.

The first concerts two weekends ago drew 65 and 80 people, which is about a third what the museum normally saw in past seasons.

The table seating concerts in which people are encouraged to bring carry-out food from a downtown restaurant have attracted a somewhat different audience, Peerbolte said.

"We're really surprised with the amount of families we've had," he said. "Overall, guest feedback has been it's a good experience. People are happy to be out again."