Celebrate America with Lima Pops

Another big holiday weekend is approaching as we celebrate Independence Day in America.  Once again, many activities will surround the July 4 celebration in Van Wert with the Holiday at Home plans.

Things get started this Friday night with what has become a Van Wert tradition with the Lima Symphony Pops Orchestra in Fountain Park.  I hope we as a community don’t take for granted the wonderful opportunity we have to celebrate July 4 with a live orchestra.  There are not many communities in America that can share a July 4 celebration much like we see on the lawn of our nation’s capital each year.

Maestro Crafton Beck has a program of American music put together that includes Broadway and film scores, popular music, American folk songs, marches, overtures and patriotic tunes sure to get everyone in the celebratory mood of Independence Day.  The Lima Symphony will play this Friday in Van Wert and then moves to the lawns of Ohio Northern University for a concert on Saturday.

Activities on Saturday in Van Wert will be in abundance, including a chicken barbecue at Smiley Park by our local firefighters, a parade at 11 a.m. down Main Street and festivities at the Van Wert County Historical Museum kicking off at noon. Fireworks will be put on display at the Van Wert High School/Middle School site. The Van Wert City School District, as well as numerous businesses, corporations and individuals who have stepped up to fund this year’s fireworks, should be thanked for their contributions.

Tickets for the Niswonger concerts are starting to sell as Grand Series sales begin today (July 1).  Remember: Grand Series packages include everything outside of the Community Concert Series.  With a Community Concert Series and a Grand Series, you won’t miss a single concert this season.

One week later (July 8), Select Series tickets go on sale. This is the time anyone can bundle three or more concerts or events, receive a discount, and be pretty much guaranteed a ticket to the concerts they want. The longer you wait to make your Select Series selection, the more risk you take in tickets either being sold out or the selection of seats decreasing. This is the reason we have added one more level of giving. We call it the “Friend” level of membership; this allows you to make your Select Series selection one day earlier on July 7. Call or stop by the box office to find out details.

That reminds me that the Niswonger box office will be closed this Friday in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. Other than that, the summer box office hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The phone number of the box office is 419.238.NPAC (6722.)

Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you have a blast and enjoy some good music. I’ll see you from the stage this Friday night as we celebrate America with the Lima Symphony Pops!  Food will be provided by the YMCA Wellness Center.

FINÉ.