Latest news with #SummerCelebration
Axios
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Indy readies for dual WNBA All-Star, Indiana Black Expo celebration
Regardless of the forecast, mid-July is poised to be the hottest stretch of summer in Indianapolis. Why it matters: Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration and WNBA All-Star 2025 sharing calendar and venue space means the city will need to accommodate two marquee events and countless community-focused initiatives all at once. What they're saying: Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said the first call she made after being contacted by the league about All-Star hosting duties was IBE president and CEO Alice Watson. "We wanted to be sure that that was something that Alice and the organization thought would be complementary to what they were doing, and that we could sort of coexist in downtown together. And she quickly got back to me and said, 'I think this is a great opportunity and I think we could work together in a really cool way.' And so we've been off to the races since then," Raines said. "This is really the most exciting time not only for Indiana Black Expo or PS&E, but for the city of Indianapolis," Watson said. "None of us will be sleeping. We'll just keep going and going and going." Catch up quick: Summer Celebration starts July 11 with the Ecumenical Service at New Direction Church and ends July 20 with the IBE's Gospel Explosion at the Indiana Convention Center. All proceeds generated by the event support IBE's year-round initiatives related to education, business development, community learning, performing arts, college scholarships and more. WNBA All-Star tips off July 18, featuring the inaugural Fever Fest concert at White River State Park and culminating in the sold-out game the next day. A skills challenge and three-point shootout are among the on-court highlights, while off-court action includes the return of "Indy's Home Court," a downtown takeover of arts and culture events first seen during last year's NBA All-Star game. State of play: Four Indiana nonprofits have received $1 million in grants to create a lasting legacy around the All-Star event. Here's what they're working on. Fletcher Place Community Center: Enhancements to early learning facilities and community spaces. The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis: Renovation of the basketball court at Al E. Polin Park. Marion County Commission on Youth: Facility renovations and the launch of a student ambassador program for 25 female high school students. Marvella Foundation: Development of a "Championship Arena" at its Fair Oaks Farms campus in Newton County. Zoom in: Other community engagement plans include an effort to help women entrepreneurs obtain women-owned business enterprise certification and free Zumba sessions held across Indy in partnership with Centers of Wellness for Urban Women. Meanwhile, donors and volunteers are still needed for All-Star Cure on July 12-13. The event is a partnership between the host committee and the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank that invites up to 500 women to donate healthy breast tissue in support of cancer research. What's next: More announcements, including celebrity guests to be added to Summer Celebration's guest list for the education conference on July 17, and the Style Zone July 18-20.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Saturday Boredom Busters: May 24th
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Enjoy a day of free music for all ages at Levitt at the Falls in downtown Sioux Falls. It all starts with a children's concert at 10:30 a.m. featuring Grammy-nominated Divinity Roxx. The nighttime entertainment starts at 7 p.m. with opening act Surfin' Safari followed by headliner Kinda Fonda Wanda. BronzeAge Art Casting is hosting the Falls Art Market at a new outdoor location this year on North Metli Place, east of the Levitt. It's taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and features original artwork and demonstrations. Bronze paw print kits will be available Admission is free. The Great Plains Zoo is hosting a Summer Celebration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities include train and carousel rides, farm feeding, face painting and the splash pad. The cost is a zoo admission. The South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls is hosting a Memorial Day Event starting at 8 a.m. Activities include speakers, music and a wreath-laying ceremony. Purchase fresh produce along with other home-grown and home-made items at the Falls Park Farmers Market. It's open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October. AMC Collective is hosting a Felt and Button Flowers Make & Take from noon to 3 p.m. Create two bright and cheerful flowers using colorful felt and buttons. The cost is $4 for two flowers. This is the final weekend the City of Sioux Falls Leaf & Branch Drop-off sites are open. They're located at Lyon Boulevard, south of the W. H. Lyon Fairgrounds and on Chambers Street, near the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Today's hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday's hours are noon to 5 p.m. The Totally Rad Vintage Fest features clothing and accessories from the '80's, '90's and Y2K eras, as well as a video game arcade. It's taking place at the Sioux Falls Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12, free for ages 12 and under. A Homestead Brew in Valley Springs, SD is hosting a Fundraiser for Hero Haven, which provides outdoor adventures for veterans. Activities begin at 3 p.m. with games, raffles, live music, a food truck and a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. The Mighty Corson Art Players present Women Playing Hamlet. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. at the Corson Playhouse. Tickets are $25, $20 for students. Movies playing at the historic State Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls include Return of the Jedi and The Elephant Man, both rated PG and The Shrouds, rated R. The Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium at the Washington Pavilion features T-Rex, Mars: The Ultimate Voyage, 3-2-1 Liftoff and Experience the Aurora. New movie releases playing at a theater near you include Lilo & Stitch plus The Last Rodeo, both rated PG, and Mission: Impossible, The Final Reckoning, rated PG-13. The Palace Theatre in Luverne, MN features Thunderbolts*, rated PG-13. Show time is 7 p.m. Sunday's matinee is 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for children. Enjoy sprint car, street stock and hobby stock racing at I-90 Speedway in Hartford, SD. Gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. The races start at 7 p.m. Admission is $20, $10 for children and free for ages 12 and under. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana Black Expo outdoor concert lineup released. Who's performing in 2025?
It's a lineup to make old-school R&B fans weak. Keith Sweat and SWV will headline the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration 's outdoor concert. The July 18 Music Heritage Festival will also feature Cameo, singer-actor Christopher Williams and Gary, Indiana, native Deniece Williams. This marks the second year for the Music Heritage Festival at its new home at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, 1001 W. New York St. Indiana Black Expo tweaked its annual free concert offering in 2024, making it a paid ticketed event and moving it from downtown Indy's American Legion Mall. The new enclosed stadium seating venue offered enhanced security, organizers said. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. How much are tickets for the Indiana Black Expo concert? The ticket costs ranged from $10 for general admission to $50-$100 for premium seating last year, with proceeds benefiting IBE's youth and family programs and its scholarship fund. Summer Celebration is back in July This year, the Summer Celebration returns to the month of July, running July 10-20. The 2024 expo events were staged in June to accommodate the National Eucharistic Congress that took place at Lucas Oil Stadium July 17-21. Indiana Black Expo 2025 outdoor concert lineup Keith Sweat: The six-time platinum producer, songwriter and R&B singer ('I Want Her,' 'Make It Last Forever') helped usher in the New Jack Swing Era and later formed supergroup LSG ('My Body') with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill. SWV: The New York City trio's debut studio album, 'It's About Time,' produced top 20 R&B chart singles – 'Right Here,' 'I'm So Into You,' 'Weak,' 'Right Here/Human Nature Remix,' 'Dowtown,' and 'You're Always on My Mind.' Cameo: The funk band led by Larry Blackmon is best known for 80s hits 'Word Up!' 'Candy,' and 'Single Life,' but charted with ballads 'Why Have I Lost You,' 'Feel Me' and 'Sparkle.' Deniece Williams: The four-time Grammy Award winner with a four-octave range sang backup on some of Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton and Roberta Flack's biggest projects before recording on her own hits, including 'Free,' 'Silly, 'It's Gonna Take Miracle' and 'Let's Hear It for the Boy.' She dueted with Johnny Mathis on 'Too Much, Too Little, Too Late' and teamed with him again for the 'Family Toes' sitcom theme song 'Without Us.' Christopher Williams: Coming onto the scene in the early '90s with hits like 'I'm Dreamin'' and 'Every Little Thing U Do' the singer also acted in the classic hip-hop film 'New Jack City.' How to get tickets to the Indiana Black Expo outdoor concert The outdoor concert will begin at 6 p.m. on July 18. Tickets go on sale April 28 at or The outdoor concert is a centerpiece of the annual Summer Celebration, which also features business and health expos and conferences. The Summer Celebration is one of the major events produced by Indiana Black Expo Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic advancement of African Americans through year-round initiatives, including its Black Business Training Institute, Scholarship Fund, Performing Arts Academy and Community Learning Hub as well as the Circle City Classic. For more information about Summer Celebration, visit
