Joe Diffie topped country music charts in the early to mid-1990s with such hits as  “Pickup Man,” “John Deere Green,” “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox,” “Ships That Don’t Come In” and “Third Rock From the Sun.” This summer, fans will get to hear him sing those hits and many more songs live at Warsaw’ Central Park.

Diffie is the headliner for this summer’s Country Music Concert in the Park.

Announced at this morning’s meeting of the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety, the concert is set for Friday, July 19.

The City of Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department booked the artist at a cost of $15,000. According to the contract, the city is also responsible for transportation and lodging expenses for the performer and his crew as related to the local concert. However, Staci Young of the parks department says the parks department has many donors who help to cover most of those additional expenses.

While the headliner for the summer classic rock concert has not yet been confirmed, Young did say the band Kyxx will open the show. Kyxx, based out of Anderson, describes its musical influences as Styx, Journey, Boston and The Beatles, among others.

For the country and classic rock concerts, the B.O.W. also approved agreements with Warsaw Community Schools to utilize the high school gym in the event of inclement weather. For all other concerts in the park, Lakeview Middle School’s gymnasium will be used.

In the fall, the park will welcome back the Incredible Bats exhibit. Young told the B.O.W. the event, held in Lucerne Park last fall, was wildly popular and performers Daniel and Sharon Peterson have agreed to bring back the exhibit for another event. Incredible Bats is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11.