Music in the Park is celebrating its 20th and final year, and 20 years ago was one of the first outdoor concert series in the Lansing area.

The concert has brought generations of families together though music and the historic buildings in Central Park in Okemos for 20 years.

The Music in the Park concert series has offered families and couples unique music — varying from bluegrass and country to jazz and classic rock.

Grettenberger started the concert series to highlight emerging talent in the area.

“To begin with, it was basically folk music and smaller groups — we tried to give people an opportunity to play that didn’t play at a lot of different places,” Grettenberger said. “(It) evolved as the years went on, (and) I wanted more variety.”

The concert series offers emerging local artists such as Sally Potter and Lost Hitchhikers the opportunity to find their audience here in the community.

Grettenberger said she would sit at the top of a hill at the Meridian Historical Village and play by herself for 45 minutes.

George Grettenberger, Diane’s husband, explained how his great-grandfather began to build the Meridian Historical Village.

“They heard there was some good cheap land out by Okemos, so they came up and bought the land for $3.50 an acre.” George said.

Jane Rose, executive director of the Meridian Historical Village, said it’s a great opportunity for the community to come out and enjoy music in a beautiful setting.

“It offers a sense of community,” Rose said.Music in the Park is offered every Wednesday evening from June 12-July 24, doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the music is from 7-8:30 p.m.