Oswego celebration to mark launch of outdoor entertainment venue

Oswego’s new outdoor entertainment venue will open with a community celebration and an unveiling of the venue’s new moniker Thursday, Aug. 19, the village announced.

The public is invited to the grand opening of the new venue at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, at the north end of Station Drive on the village’s far west side.

Guests will be offered nonalcoholic beverages; a performance by the Bree Gordon Band, featuring crooning big band jazz, growling Chicago blues and wailing R&B; and the official announcement of the venue’s new name.

“This is what can be accomplished when a community works together with a single vision, and I could not be more excited,” Village President Troy Parlier said in a statement. “This venue demonstrates the best of Oswego, and I hope everyone will come out to thank our partners who have made this project possible.”

About the new venue

The new entertainment venue has been designed as a community amenity for concerts, festivals and local performing arts groups, as well as green space open to the community. After the grand opening, the venue will host the four-day VetFest, headlined by chart-topping country music duo LoCash on Friday, Aug. 27, and metal legend Vince Neil on Saturday, Aug. 28.

On Sept. 18, the community is invited to take the stage for Oswego’s Got Talent. On Sept. 24, the U.S. Air Force Band Starlifter brings high-energy rock, pop, country and patriotic music to the stage. And on Oct. 17, the annual Pumpkin Pick-up will give away 500 pumpkins to Oswego families on a first-come basis.

More events continue to be added to the calendar throughout the season. Visit oswegoil.org/amphitheater for a list of events and to sign up for notifications about upcoming events.

Contribute to the new venue

Also in the statement, the village expressed thanks to the following sponsors for making the project possible: Kevin Fialko at the Maestro level of $100,000 or more; KCM Companies Inc. at the Symphony level of $50,000 or more; H. Linden & Sons, Angelo Kleronomos/Property Concepts Inc., and Schoppe Design Associates at the Concerto level of $25,000 or more; Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo Ltd., D Construction, and Central Sod Farms Inc. at the Accelerando level of $5,000 or more; and Integral Construction at the Motif level of $1,000 or more.

The new entertainment venue is being constructed in multiple phases, and subsequent phases will include additional landscaping, semi-permanent seating, entrance paver bricks, art installations, permanent restrooms, concession stand, playground, walking paths and improvements to the bandshell.

Residents and organizations can help jump-start subsequent phases of the park through sponsorships and donations. Several sponsorship levels are available, and donors can be commemorated on The Next Act donor wall coming to the main entrance to the venue. So far, community partners have contributed more than $552,000 to the project.

For information, including donor levels, visit oswegoil.org/amphitheater.