November 25, 2019
South Bend Venues Parks & Arts (SBVPA) along with local community leaders will host a special Grand Opening Celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand-new Howard Park on Friday, November 29 beginning at 4:30pm.
Celebrations for the evening will include: WNDU’s Tricia Sloma and Joshua Short as guest hosts; Live music by Smash Kings; Food trucks from Four Winds, Parmajacos, Rulli’s, and All Over Creations; Howard Park Public House beer garden; South Bend Premiere DJ; Winter activities and games from a variety of vendors; Spectacular fireworks; Special guest appearance by Olympic Champion Figure Skater, Brian Boitano who will be around following the ceremony for photos; Special performance by actor/singer Franc D’Ambrosio, one of the world’s longest running Phantoms from Phantom of the Opera; and South Bend’s Got Talent Winner, Jarynn Sampson performing a sing-a-long.
The family-friendly festival is free for the public to attend. Eventgoers are encouraged to plan ahead, arrive early, and use remote parking areas and the complimentary Transpo shuttle. Grand Opening Celebration is from 4:30pm – 9:00pm with the special ribbon cutting ceremony, performances and fireworks beginning at 6pm. View Parking Map.
“South Bend is about to experience something truly unique at Howard Park,” said Executive Director, Aaron Perri. “This regional attraction is truly world-class; only made possible by community input, our generous partners, and the hard-working staff and contractors. The new Howard Park is definitely the type of place you have to see to believe.”
As part of the expansive $50 million My South Bend Parks & Trails (MSBPT) initiative, Howard Park reopens at the corner of Jefferson Blvd. and St. Louis Blvd. to a variety of vibrant, active spaces including: a brand-new state-of-the-art ice trail and pond; a 16,000 square-foot multi-generational playground designed for universal play and discover; interactive water feature and a LEED v4 certified multi-purpose building.
Howard Park is part of My South Bend Parks and Trails (MSBPT), a combination of park, trail and riverfront upgrades that will fundamentally change the landscape of South Bend’s shared green spaces. MSBPT’s project list was developed based on feedback from community, recommendations from the Park Score and statistics from National Recreation and Park Association. For more information on the MSBPT project, visit www.mysbparksandtrails.com.
Venues Parks & Arts is a department in the City of South Bend that inspires a more livable South Bend for all, connecting people to emotionally engaging experiences and to one another. For more information about Venues Parks & Arts, visit www.sbvpa.org.
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Event details:
Who: South Bend Venues Parks & Arts
What: Howard Park Grand Opening Celebration
When: Friday, November 29 from 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Where: Howard Park – 219 S. St. Louis Blvd., South Bend, IN 46617
