10 years of WOW at the Niswonger!

Today is the day we announce the entire 2016-17 season at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Every year has become more and more special, but this year is an announcement of our 10th anniversary season and you can bet it is loaded with outstanding concerts and events.

Wanting to make this 10-year anniversary special, my board and I wanted to have an appropriate gala concert and celebration.  It took months in the making, but even I am amazed at what we have come up with. If you are available today (May 15), we invite you to our unveiling of the season and our gala concert celebration. Starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Niswonger’s Van Wert Federal Grand Lobby and First Federal’s Lecture Hall, we are serving up lunch, compliments of Van Wert Pizza Hut and some desserts from Truly Divine of Van Wert. Then at noon, we will begin a program of recognizing sponsors, welcoming media from the region, and then announce through a specially produced video, our season and Gala performance.  We should be wrapped up by 1 p.m. so you can go out into the public to help spread the news.

Next week’s column will allow me time to talk about the season a little more in detail.  It will feature 23 outstanding concerts of variety as well as three exciting, inspiring, and educational speakers.  We will also share selling dates and other valuable information at our noon Unveiling Event today.  Catalogs have been printed and are currently in the mail to nearly 16,000 previous ticket buying residents throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“Ten years of Wow!” is the slogan we have put to our new season. I am sure “wow” is an appropriate word to use for this season. As I said, even I said “Wow!” when I put it all together.  We look forward to seeing you and sharing the good news of 10 years at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.

Now on to Fountain Park. This Friday night features a concert I know some of you have especially been looking forward to. It is “Madrigal: the Ultimate Tribute to Carlos Santana,” starting at 7 p.m. I know there are some real Carlos Santana fans out there. José Madrigal is a guitarist/vocalist who lives in the Cincinnati area and has put together an outstanding band of musicians who perform the music of Carlos Santana.

Those of you familiar with Santana’s music appreciate the energy of Latin, Jazz, Rock, Fusion, and Blues that comes with his music.  We were fortunate for them to have an open Friday night several months ago when I booked them. They are a growing band in popularity and I think you will really enjoy their music and showmanship Friday night.

Serving up delicious food for you to enjoy in the park will be the Van Wert Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Although this non-profit organization receives some government funding, it is always looking for additional funding to help its cause of promoting Van Wert County. Your support of CVB will not only help its cause, but also fill your appetite!  If we should run into a completely rainy day, the concert could be moved into the Niswonger.  Let’s all hope we can enjoy another fun and beautiful day and evening in Fountain Park. I’m sure you will enjoy the fun, music, food, and great fellowship.

FINÉ.