Sheets and blankets covering Graceada grass? It’s Mo-time!

Much of the lawn at Graceada Park is brown, as it should be in this fourth year of drought.

But large swaths in front of and on the sides of the Mancini Bowl amphitheater are blue, purple, red, fuchsia and so many other colors.

It’s the opening day for MoBand, after all, and people were up very early – and the most die-hard out Wednesday night – literally staking out their spaces for tonight’s season kickoff.

For her fifth year, Cindy Holman has been the designated spot saver for her group of family and friends. She was kneeling down, using a hammer to tap tent stakes into the ground to create a perimeter ribbon the size of the blankets she had.

While lots of sheets, blankets and quilts long have been staked out on the amphitheater lawn, it appears a growing practice to set up a perimeter ribbon and then bring the fabric itself back for showtime. “It saves on the grass, and the wind can sometimes blow away your blanket,” Holman said. “It’s effective – people don’t take your spot.”

Out at the park a bit before 7 a.m., Holman noted that the lawn seems to fill up with fabric earlier and earlier. “I thought that because this was the first one, not everyone would be aware.”

Not the case.

But fortune was with Holman, who found the specific spot she wanted still open. “My husband says, ‘Get by the people at the tree,’” she said, securing her place right next to an already staked-out perimeter by said tree to the west of the amphitheater. “They’re just a kick in the pants,” she said of the family whose name was escaping her. “They have such a blast each year. ... He sets up a full bar around the tree. He’s the funniest bartender I know.”

Holman and company will be at the park sometime between 5 and 6 today to get close parking and, of course, to enjoy the pre-performance partying.

But what of the music itself? Does that matter much?

Absolutely, she said. “We look forward to the music. It’s 125 volunteer musicians. My daughter’s up there,” along with a lot of her daughter’s former bandmates from Gregori High,” Holman said. “As soon as the music starts, you feel the chills, the excitement. It’s the best date night ever.”

Off stage and on, “everyone is so kind to each other, so courteous,” she said. “Music brings people together, don’t you think?”

Daughter Stephanie, a Gregori grad now, just got work at Gottschalk Music Center, mom said. And Stephanie told her she’ll be in MoBand all her life.

Many more mornings, then, for Holman to be out in the park early June mornings with hammer in hand.

This story was originally published June 4, 2015 at 8:22 AM with the headline "Sheets and blankets covering Graceada grass? It’s Mo-time!."