Sundown Salute 2016 will forever be remembered as an epic night of rock and roll.

The 1st Infantry Division Rock band opened the evening at 6:00 pm, followed by Cimino rocking the stage at 7:30 pm.

The crowd began thickening around 7:00pm and reached record breaking proportions during Bret Michael’s performance at 9:00pm.

Sundown Salute Director Sharon Glessner estimated the crowd size Saturday evening.

“It was definetely over 20,000 with it being a record crowd,” said Glessner.

Cool temperatures with a gloomy overcast threatened to halt the Sundown Salute festivities, but nothing was going to stop the many devoted Bret Michaels fans from having a good time.

“That’s crazy on july 3rd [for temperatures to be] 70 degrees, but we’ll take it, anything, just no rain,” said Glessner.

During his performance, Michaels mentioned returning to Junction City for next year’s Fourth of July celebrations.

After the concert, Bret Michaels spoke exclusively with JC Post.

“First of all, Junction City rocked – I’ve had one of the best days of my life…It was an amazing crowd, we would be proud to be back here next year,” said Michaels.

Glessner said she was thrilled beyond words.

“[That] was awesome; I kind of choked a little bit. We would love to have him back; he loved it here, he loves the military, the soldiers…he’s a great supporter of all of this and he loves Kansas too,” said Glessner.

Michaels rocked out to fan favorites as the enormous crowd in Heritage Park in downtown Junction City sang along.

“It was an awesome night…It was three generations of people just partying,” said Michaels.

Michaels comes from a family legacy of military service members and he loved Junction City’s connection to the armed forces.

“I was overseas, [we] were over in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait with a lot of the men and women that were here [tonight] so it made it really special for me,” said Michaels.

During his performance, Michaels invited Major General Wayne W. Grigsby Jr, Command Sergeant Major Joseph Cornelison and the 1st Infantry Division Rock Band on stage for a special tribute.

“It was just a great time for everybody, I can’t imagine anybody that didn’t have a good time,” said Glessner.

Immediately after the concert, Junction City Interim Police Chief Dan Breci said despite the large number in attendance there were no reported incidents.

“It’s been a great night, no incidents in the park and everybody’s behaving; you wouldn’t think you could fit 20,000 people in our park,” said Breci.

Two things are certain about July 3, 2016:  1. Bret Michaels rocked Junction City with record breaking crowds; 2. we can look forward to next year being just as awesome.

 

“I’m here next year, they won’t be able to keep us away and I hope it’s on Fourth of July week – but I’m coming back,” said Michaels