Starting from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the evening is meant to unify and enjoy the talents of a unique musical group intent on bringing people together.

The Day Okay Jazz project, which is comprised of 5 Webster City musicians, started their music adventure less than one year ago. Dave Parrott, Eric Hanson, Amelia Oliver, Kirk Greenley and Tamiann Parrott; who are the musicians and brainchild of Day Okay, have held one fundraiser testing the waters for the Webster City Community Theatre in April. They were able to raise $2,000 for the theatrical troupe.

This will also be a fundraiser for the gardens that make up this Second Street pocket park. There will be a place to make donations to help pay for the plants and materials that keep the park so beautiful.

What will be different on Saturday night, is there will be music in the background, with places for people to sit and talk and listen.

“This is not a concert,” insisted Parrott, “We want it to be a community gathering. We want people to come together, and face each other; not us.”

This is also not a one-time thing.

Starting with this Saturday night, the Day Okay project will be on hand to light up the pocket park every second and fourth Saturday night going into the fall, depending on the weather.

“This is a huge collaboration project,” Parrott said, “We are sharing visions so we can create the interest and the atmosphere to bring people together.”

The Day Okay group has been working closely with Master Gardener Richard Carlson, who has planted and cared for this park for nearly 20 years, the Wildcat Distillery owners and LIFT, Inc.

If excitement could light up the city, Parrott and Hanson could do it just by their own enthusiasm.

“We are just waiting,” Parrott said, “We’ve purchased a whole new lighting system.”

There will be lights in the trees, along the walkways and lighting up the walls that protect the garden.

“We want it relaxing,” he said.

Hanson agreed,

“We want to create a place where everyone wants to come,” Hanson said. “We want something unique and special; conversational, mood setting jazz.”

Hanson is the drummer for the Day Okay Jazz project, he also is the percussion specialist and assistant marching band director for the Fort Dodge Senior High School.

Parrott is the horn specialist, usually playing trumpet for the group. He can barely contain himself with the excitement for this project. His specialty is sound engineering,He makes no bones about it, he loves Webster City. He moved to Webster City from California four years ago, and has been busy getting involved and helping ever since. He has helped improve sound systems at many of the churches in Webster City, the Webster City Community Theatre, the Webster City High School, among other projects.

“When you don’t see it, you yearn for it; so you look for it, and you have to go somewhere. This is going to create a higher level of music that you can enjoy right here,” said Hanson, “There is a waiting list of people who would like to play with us.”

“Musicians are very elated to hear of a project like this; the collaboration and the effort to create music. Our primary focus is jazz – American Songbook jazz, with some modern music thrown in.”

But Hanson and Parrott agree that the music is secondary, it’s part of creating a mood, the atmosphere. It’s meant to be relaxing, enjoyable and so people can talk and enjoy each other.

“He knows how to amplify live music so it is enjoyable,” said Hanson.

The music will appeal most to an older audience, but it will surprise listeners to hear more current tunes. ”

“Younger people will enjoy the unique arrangements we’ve turned into laid back, beautiful jazz music,” Hanson said.

They want this to help the Wildcat Distillery, they want this to help The Elks and Lift-WC. They have plans, a three year plan that will create something that will make the area inviting and special. The future will involve food, more musicians, more community space. But for now, what they are doing is the first step in a summer of dreams.

So their advice for Saturday night? Bring a lawn chair, bring a picnic basket, bring some friends, plan to sit and talk and meet and greet others in the community. It’s meant to be a come and go event, so sometime between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., drop in for awhile, and enjoy the work these artists have created.

“It’ll be nothing like anything else around,” agreed Hanson and Parrott.

Because that is what it will be.