Coronado residents gathered at the Library Park on Saturday, July 19, for the Friends of the Coronado Public Library’s first annual Picnic at the Library event. The free, family-friendly event ran from noon to two p.m. and featured live music from the School of Rock band, lunch from Boney’s Bayside Market, and a raffle with care package prizes.
The Friends of the Coronado Public Library (FOL) are dedicated supporters who provide financial assistance for a variety of programs at the Coronado Public Library that serve readers and learners of all ages, according to Doreen Genmark, the FOL Marketing and Executive Assistant.
Jeanne Luna, Head of Outreach for FOL, organized the event in hopes of connecting more residents to the library. “In the past six to eight months, we’ve been trying to host more community-oriented events that will be available to everyone and increase membership,” Luna said. “We want people to be involved, volunteer, and enjoy what we are doing. The more people in the community we can draw in, the happier we are.”
Luna began planning the event in May of this year and said she hoped to see more young people attend future library events. “We’d love to see more of the younger generation come out and participate,” she said.
In order to reach her goal, Luna saw the School of Rock band, a music school for students under eighteen, at the Gaslamp Historical Association a few months prior, and decided to invite them to play for a day in the park.
The live music was the afternoon’s biggest draw, as the crowd was entertained by a mix of classic rock and music from the 1960s to modern hits, with different groups of student musicians rotating in and out for each song. More than 160 guests attended the event, including passersby walking their dogs or arriving on the Summer Shuttle, who stopped to listen to a few songs, as well as those who stayed the entire time. Many tapped their feet to the rhythm of the music while small children got up to dance to the beat of the drums.
Five or six students performed on stage at a time, rotating positions to play electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, tambourine, and sing. Dressed in the 2000s casual “skater grunge” style, the young musicians played like seasoned professionals.
All band members are under the age of 18, with the youngest being thirteen and the oldest eighteen at the time of the performance, according to Music Director Tyler Ward, who said that the program is designed to teach more than just how to play an instrument.
“Our goal is to help students grow as musicians, but also as human beings,” he said. “You can learn how to play guitar by watching YouTube videos, but until you’re playing with a whole group of other musicians, it’s hard to learn how to perform. Music is about being a team player.”
The band that performed Saturday is part of the School of Rock’s “House Band,” which Ward described as a selective group of students who audition to take on more challenging gigs.
“These students are not just learning songs—they’re learning how to think critically about performance,” Ward explained. “They help curate set lists based on the type of audience. For example, we looked at the crowd and thought, ‘This song will work really well here,’ or, ‘Let’s swap the next song for something different.’ It’s great practice for them.”
Ward said performing at community events helps students gain valuable stage experience while giving back. “All stage time is great for learning,” he said. “But also just to be able to contribute and get back to your community is a gigantic part of [our] message and the heart of what music can do for a person.”
For lunch, attendees enjoyed sandwiches, wraps, and salads courtesy of Boney’s Bayside Market. The menu included turkey and ham sandwiches, veggie wraps, Coronado coleslaw, macaroni salad, and Bayside potato salad.
The raffle prizes were from an up-and-coming entrepreneur and Coronado local, Ashley Leohr, who designed The Feel Good Box. Each self-care package was themed and had items like blankets, mugs, journals, or kids’ boxes filled with crafts and activities.
Attendee and FOL Board Member Marsi Steirer reflected on her experience at the picnic. “It was a lovely day in the Library Park. It was nice to see all of these people,” she said.
Kim Short, whose daughter played drums during the performance, reflected on her time watching her daughter perform. “She’s done a lot of events, and the experience has been incredible,” Short said, adding that the School of Rock program has been very fun for her daughter. “She’s built her confidence by performing on stage, and she’s made really good friends.
“They do gigs almost every week,” she continued. “They’re actually performing at the band’s Warped Tour in Long Beach the following weekend, which they’re really excited about.”
Luna reflected on the event and said she hopes to make the Picnic at the Library an annual tradition. “It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages come together,” she said.
The Friends of the Coronado Public Library plan to continue hosting events throughout the year in hopes of encouraging more residents to participate, volunteer, and enjoy the library’s resources.
VOL. 115, NO. 30 – July 23, 2025