Following tradition, the sixth annual ’Tis the Season concert will feature local artists who hope to benefit local nonprofit organizations this holiday season.
The concert, held at Ignition Music Garage (120 E. Washington St.) Saturday, December 2, is part of a celebration presented by the City of Goshen for having been named Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
Featured Performers include Chris Collat, Faybrianne Ganger, One Voice Trio, The Amen Quartet, Brides of Neptune, GoProv, Shiny Shiny Black with Carrie Lee Bland Kendall, Lalo Cura, Betsey Long, GoDance, and the Tumbleweed Jumpers.
As a thank you to the community, Mayor Jeremy Stutsman is combining his traditional Mayor’s Open House with a “Community of the Year” celebration held at The Electric Brew (118 E. Washington St.) The event will feature complementary coffee and hors d’ oeuvres, beginning at 6 p.m.
Ignition opens its doors at 7 and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public, but tickets must be acquired through the Ignition Box Office ahead of the concert. Seated tickets are sold out and general admission (standing room) tickets are half-gone. Those wanting to attend the concert can get tickets at Ignition or online at ignitionmusic.net.
- 6–8 p.m.—Mayor’s Community of the Year open house at The Electric Brew featuring complementary coffee and hors d’ oeuvres
- 7 p.m.—Silent art auction, continues throughout the evening, and is open to the community
- 7 p.m.—Doors open at Ignition Music Garage
- 7:30 p.m.—’Tis the Season begins, tickets required
As in previous years, a large part of the concert consists of raising money that will benefit The Window and the Elkhart County Clubhouse.
The concert, which will feature a number of holiday classics, is a production by local performers who want to make a charitable contribution during the holiday season. Ignition founder Steve Martin said that’s the reason so many local artists gather to give this concert. “Last year we raised almost $4,000. Please consider making the suggested donation of $25 a person, so that our charities can benefit from this great community production,” he said.
Checks can be made directly to The Window and the Elkhart County Clubhouse.
About The Window: The Window serves as an umbrella that covers a wide variety of the basic needs for individuals of all ages and ethnic backgrounds that live in and around the city of Goshen, Indiana. They provide clothing for all seasons; boxes of food for families and individuals; hot showers (soap, shampoo and towel included); a place to wash and dry clothes (detergent included). They also provide an amnesty program (November 15 – March 31st); financial counseling; case management; a kitchen that serves coffee and donuts in the morning; Meals on Wheels; hot meals; a lunch box program at noon and sandwiches in the afternoon. They also offer free printing, faxing, referrals, phone, and act as a post office (people get and send their mail at the Window). The Window has been a ministry powered by volunteers. To date they have more than 145 active volunteers that have helped run the programs over the past several years. More than 250 individuals and groups have logged between 13,000-15,000 hours of service per year.
About the Elkhart County Clubhouse: Elkhart County Clubhouse is a community where people who have a persistent mental illness can come to rebuild their lives. They assist members in achieving their social, financial, and vocational goals. The staff and members work side-by-side, and they focus on the strengths of their members rather than their diagnoses. Membership is open to anyone 18 or older with a history of mental illness. They opened on May 22, 2012, and their hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.