Beauty comes to the NPAC this Saturday

This weekend offers a number of events worth your time and consideration, but none will offer as much beauty and glamour as the Miss West Central Ohio Scholarship Pageant at the Niswonger this Saturday, August 3.  Beginning at 7:30 p.m., 19 girls will be competing for the crown of Miss West Central Ohio and have the opportunity to move on to the Miss Ohio Pageant. The contestants come from 10 counties throughout the region.

Another exciting aspect of Saturday’s pageant is that it will all be televised for broadcast on NBC/Lima and FOX/Lima. To witness this pageant and be a part of the televised audience, you can get tickets at the NPAC box office for just $20 each.

In addition to the beautiful and talented contestants, the night will be hosted by Miss America 2009 Katie Stam, recently seen on NBC’s “The Apprentice” and former Miss West Central Ohio Elissa McCracken, who went on to become Miss Ohio 2012. Now that’s a lot of beauty on one stage to behold!

It will be an exciting few days at the Niswonger as we prepare and get set up for this televised event, host rehearsals, and interviews, all leading up to Saturday evening’s pageant.  Get your tickets now or at the door and be prepared for an exquisitely lovely evening at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.

While at the Niswonger, you may also want to check out the many other coming attractions this fall and into the new season.  Tickets are selling quickly as the excitement grows with each day.  Kellie Pickler, Trace Adkins, Michael W. Smith, Debbie Boone, Tony Orlando, and The Ohio State University Marching Band are just a few of the outstanding performances coming to the Niswonger this season. And speaking of the Ohio State University Marching Band, I just had the opportunity to see over 200 potential members at their summer practice session earlier this week.  Realizing some may not actually make the band and be a part of our November 7 concert, they still sounded wonderful!  You will be absolutely blown away when the Buckeye Band comes to Van Wert.  Busses are starting to fill our hall and tickets are going fast.  Don’t be left out!

I was so sorry to have to miss the John Denver tribute by Ted Vigil and Steve Weisberg this past Friday in Fountain Park. It is just the second concert in 11 years I have had to miss, but I understand nearly 2,500 of you had a wonderful time in the park … just as I expected.  I wish I could have seen your smiling faces. And, oh, what beautiful weather!

This Friday night is an open night in the park as I encourage you to go to the fairgrounds and support the Rib Fest, which will be filled with great eating (of course), music, games and fun for all ages.  And it’s all for a good cause in support of our Convention & Visitors Bureau and others.

Our last Van Wert County Foundation sponsored concert in Fountain Park will be the following Friday, August 9, with the Ides of March, featuring Jim Peterik. Some of their original music is “Vehicle,” “Eye of the Tiger,” “L.A. Goodbye,” and “Hold on Loosely”.  This is the original band out of Chicago and I look for a rollicking finale in Fountain Park: horns, guitars, drums, vocals — what could be better?

Enjoy another big weekend in Van Wert and I will see you soon!

FINÉ.