gabriel_korty_parachute_days_point_reyes_station
FUND-RAISING: Gabriel Korty setting up his parachute at Love Field last year. Mr. Korty, a carpenter and artist, is crowdfunding to create an events venue that would cater to all ages.   Danny Vitali

Gabriel Korty grew up in Point Reyes Station playing baseball on Love Field. That field is now the site of a dream he’s spent the last two years developing: an outdoor community venue called Parachute Days. The venue will be active from June to October and host monthly concerts, a variety of youth-oriented workshops, family movie screenings and the occasional memorial service. A 100-foot parachute will cover the stage and audience, while three smaller parachutes will float over food booths and vendors. Mr. Korty, a carpenter who got his start in high school building sets for plays, is now crowdfunding the project on Indiegogo, a goal of raising $30,000 in the next two months. He plans to use mostly reclaimed and recycled wood, but the costs of lumber, rope, bolts and employing a structural engineer are high. The donations will also cover the costs of insuring the event and meeting Marin County fire codes, including purchasing a specialized fire retardant to cover the parachutes. Last summer, Mr. Korty helped produce an impromptu two-day event at Love Field called the Woodsist Festival, which was originally planned for Big Sur but was moved last-minute due to a wildfire. The event drew some pushback from community members concerned about its impacts. Now, Mr. Korty said, “we are doing all the steps needed to be legitimate, professional and safe for the community.” Leah Fritts, a Point Reyes Station resident with experience in organizing and marketing, has been helping Mr. Korty with promotion. She said they “will have a reasonable cap on how many tickets we’ll sell. We want it to be intimate and fun and not the big, crazy party vibe.” For Mr. Korty, “I think it’s really important to be intergenerational. Our community has amazing elders, mentors and thriving young adults. With Parachute Days, we want to host concerts, but the main thing I want to do is host educational workshops [and] have activities for the kids of Marin County.” To contribute to the fundraiser, visit indiegogo.com/projects/parachute-days-music-art–3# or attend a benefit concert at the Old Western Saloon on March, 11 at 8 p.m. with music by Luke Temple and DJ Barbarella.