What began as years of clearing brush and building trails by hand has grown into a new vision for gathering in Warren County.

As Pellegrino’s Creekside Pavilion prepares for its first full season of concerts, food service and community events, owner Tom Pellegrino says his goal extends beyond live entertainment.

“We want to become a place that the community is proud to have,” Pellegrino said during a recent interview at the venue. “It’s a place for families, friends, great food and live music.”

Located along Conewango Creek, the outdoor venue features walking paths, fire pits, tree swings and open green space designed to encourage visitors to linger rather than simply stop in for a meal.

Pellegrino said he spent 18 years transforming the property, clearing dense overgrowth and completing much of the construction himself with help from family and staff.

The pavilion’s management team hopes the venue will become a destination for everything from concerts and festivals to weddings, graduation parties, fundraisers and family celebrations.

Manager Matt Chimenti said this year’s calendar includes tribute concerts, trivia nights, local musicians, nonprofit fundraisers and the return of Warren’s Got Talent.

“Warnstock is really our introduction,” Chimenti said of the concert that took place last week. “We’ve got concerts, food, special events and more planned.”

Upcoming concerts include:

— July 18 – Nite Bridge (Van Morrison Tribute)

— July 25 – The Song Remains (Led Zeppelin Tribute)

— Aug. 14 – Big Martha (Allman Brothers Tribute)

— Aug. 16 – Silent Legacy (Melissa Etheridge Tribute)

— Sept. 5 and 12 – Warren’s Got Talent

— Sept. 26 – Songbirds (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)

— Oct. 3 – Band-Aid’s Rocktoberfest

Pellegrino said affordability has been a priority from the beginning.

“I want people to be able to come down, have a sandwich or an ice cream cone and spend time together without feeling like they have to spend a lot of money,” he said. “For us, it’s about creating an experience.”

Pellegrino repeatedly returned to a central theme: creating opportunities for people to disconnect from everyday pressures and reconnect with one another.

He envisions families playing cornhole or badminton, children exploring the grounds, couples relaxing around fire pits and visitors spending hours outdoors rather than rushing through a meal.

Chimenti said they also hope to partner with local musicians, nonprofits and community organizations to expand programming throughout the season.

Looking ahead, Pellegrino emphasized success won’t be measured solely by attendance or revenue.

“My dream would be to have 500 people down here on a Saturday night just enjoying themselves,” he said. “If people come out, have a great time, tell their friends and want to come back, we’ll consider that a success.”

For Pellegrino, the larger vision is simple.

“I’ve been in business for 50 years,” he said. “What I think our community needs is a place where people can come together, relax and enjoy being with each other. That’s what we’re trying to build here.”