Not even a downpour could stop people from listening to a patriotic concert by the Anthracite Philharmonic on Sunday in Pottsville.
"Absolutely terrific concert," Dave Guro, Coppersburg, said as he was leaving Yuengling Mansion Gardens just after 7:30 p.m.
He was one of many who decided to brave the rain to listen to the music.
For $10, people were able to enjoy melodies such as the "1812 Overture," the "Armed Forces Salute," the song "Band of Brothers" and others. Proceeds benefit the Anthracite Philharmonic, a group of musicians from the Schuylkill County and beyond.
Although the rain caused a delay, it couldn't silence the music. As rain fell people stood under the porch of the mansion or inside. Some later wiped off chairs to sit outside. Umbrellas were opened about 6:49 p.m. when the rain again decided to come down.
This was the third year for the concert at the mansion, dubbed a Star-Spangled Banner Patriotic Concert.
Last year it also rained and the event had to be held inside.
"Obviously, they want this or they would not come in the rain or the heat," said Linda Kriner, president of the philharmonic board of directors.
The music started at 6:30 p.m., a delay of 30 minutes. The evening ended with the music of John Philip Sousa.
Philharmonic director Mark P. Thomas said there are 41 people in the orchestra playing a wide variety of instruments, including violins, flutes, clarinets, french horns, percussion instruments and others.
"It's really become a yearly event for the community," he said.
Thomas was appreciative of the audience. "Thank you for staying," he said. "We'll see how it goes here."
Kriner spoke briefly before the orchestra played.
"You're going to experience something like what they have in Boston," she said speaking about the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops, but on a smaller scale.
Darla Fabiani, 55, of Minersville, her husband, Vincent, 61, and her nephew, Thomas Reed, 11, came to enjoy the music.
"It's such a comfortable way to watch a concert," she said, adding that deciding not to come didn't occur to her.
Taking shelter on the porch, Joan Behrenes, Chicago, Ill., and her mother, Mary Hirsch, Mount Carmel, enjoyed their first time listening to the musicians.
"We like patriotic music. That's why we especially came," Behrenes said, adding they were glad they stayed through the rain.
Near the end of the program, Thomas asked the audience if they wanted to hear the "1812 overture." They did. The orchrestra played it for about 17 minutes.
At one point near the end, six people from Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Orwigsburg, played handbells.
The effort drew a big round of applause.
Joan Koslosky, a member of the philharmonic board, said at least 200 people attended the concert.