Thank you! It’s time to turn the page

Have you noticed the days a getting shorter?  Actually, it’s the daylight that is getting shorter.  The cicadas have been chirping for some time and I have already attended my first football game of the season.  My family surprised me for my birthday with tickets to the NFL Hall of Fame game last weekend in Canton to watch my victorious Dallas Cowboys!

All this is said to give a thank you for another fun Fountain Park Summer Music Series.  If you still have the need to extend your musical fun outside, catch the Van Wert Area Concert Band this Friday night at 7 p.m. in the park.  I saw their repertoire for the concert and it looks like a very entertaining concert.

Last Friday’s Ides of March concert in Fountain Park was a fun way to end the season.  I believe many were surprised at how many songs were related to “the Ides” and/or Jim Peterik, the lead vocalist.  Once again, the band really enjoyed playing for you and their entire Fountain Park experience.  We, at The Van Wert County Foundation, look forward to putting another entertaining line-up in Fountain Park next summer.

With that being said, it is now time to turn the page and focus on the indoor entertainment coming this fall to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.  Concerts are selling fast as evidence that the Ohio State University Marching Band concert on November 7 has already sold out!  I told my son, Tim, who just made the band last night for his final year, to let Director Jon Waters, know that we are sold out already.  Water’s response was, “Really?  In little old Van Wert?”  He obviously doesn’t know Van Wert like we do; but he will soon find out!

Other concerts about to sell out are Michael W. Smith on October 5, which is our season opening concert. At this time, there are 85 tickets remaining.  I also wouldn’t wait very long for Kellie Pickler, Debbie Boone, or Under the Streetlamp, as they are gaining steam as we draw closer to the opening.

Just a note for those of you who may have been waiting for the release of single tickets to Trace Adkins concert on November 16; we have been requested by Trace’s management to postpone the sale date for single tickets to September 13.  We had originally planned on selling whatever remaining tickets were left (after package sales) on August 15.  This date has now been moved by his management to September 13.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Trace is putting together his very first Christmas tour and it looks spectacular; however, they want to announce it to the public through their media later in September. Tickets will be released closer to the release of his Christmas album entitled, The King’s Gift –– an appropriate title for Christmas!

We just held our Volunteer Appreciation Banquet at the Niswonger.  There are over 200 people who volunteer their services at the Niswonger in Van Wert.  They really are the fuel to our engine.  We couldn’t present the concerts, productions and speaking events we do without their assistance.  Bravo Volunteers!  Here’s to turning the page and looking forward to a new and exciting season at the Niswonger!