In just two short years, and with a lot of collaboration from community partners, a dream has become reality along Oswego’s Orchard Road corridor. The new Venue 1012, located at 1012 Station Drive, is now officially open and will provide a home for entertainment and the performing arts in Oswego.
In his remarks, Village President Troy Parlier reminisced on the moment when he stood in the empty field with Village staff and imagined an amphitheater.
“Just over two years later here we area,” Parlier said. “This wonderful public amenity is being delivered to the Oswego community in time for events yet this year and under budget.”
The grand opening included an unveiling of the venue’s new identity as Venue 1012, a ribbon-cutting,a performance by the Bree Gordon Band and Swing Assembly Horns featuring Oswego teacher Clint Hafenrichter and OHS band director Kevin Schoenbach, cheesecake compliments of Steve Buresh’s Cheesecake Store & Sandwich Shop adjacent to the venue, and recognition for the many donors who came together to build the project.
“To see Oswego grow and be such a tightly bound community, to see the vision of the mayor come forward and build this, it just amazes me,” Kevin Fialko, donor of the amphitheater land, said. “When [Mayor Parlier] approached me about being a part of this, I couldn’t put my hand up fast enough to make that happen.”
In addition to several private donors, state legislators also advocated to fund the amphitheater. State Rep. Keith Wheeler secured a $100,000 state grant, and State Rep. Mark Batinick brought another $138,000 grant to the project.
“When I was a little kid, nothing like this existed, and now we’ve got tens of thousands of people that call Oswego home,” Wheeler said. “As we’re coming out of this pandemic that we’ve been a part of for the last year and a half, we’re going to need more and more ways for us to get together and rebuild some bonds of friendship and family, and here we are in a place where we can do that.”
Also in attendance to celebrate the new community amenity were Congressman Bill Foster, State Sen. Linda Holmes, Oswego Village Trustees Tom Guist, Kit Kuhrt, James Marter II, Terry Olson and Jennifer Jones-Sinnott, and a representative of Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s office.
A full calendar of community events
Next weekend, the venue will host its first major concert event – the four-day long VetFest, headlined by chart-topping country music duo LoCash on Friday, Aug. 27, and metal legend Vince Neil on Saturday, Aug. 28. The lineup also includes Johnny Cash tribute The Man in Black and 7th Heaven, plus a carnival for guests all weekend long.
“Veterans, of course, are free to get in, along with frontline workers, police, firemen and medical personnel, all get in free with every paid ticket so please spread the word,” VetFestorganizer and founder of the VetFest 141 Foundation Chris Skilnik said. “The more tickets you buy, the more free tickets we can give away. We’d love to fill this whole place.”
Oswego’s Got Talent will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, and will turn up the stage lights on entertainers of all kinds, who will compete for cash prizes and a spot on the main stage at subsequent Village of Oswego events. On Sept. 24, the U.S. Air Force Band Starlifterwill bring 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, first-served basis.
More events continue to be added to the calendar throughout the season. Visit www.oswegoil.org/venue1012 for a complete list of events and to sign up for notifications about upcoming events.
The Village has received donations and officials seek additional donors.
From the outset, the construction of Venue 1012 has been imagined as a phased approach that would allow construction to move forward with the support of community-minded contributors. Today’s grand opening marks completion of the first phase, which includes the 40-foot by 60-foot bandshell and grass seating made possible by the following generous donors:
- Dawn and 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 of Property Concepts, Inc., and Schoppe Design Associates at the Concerto level of $25,000 or more
- Ottosen DiNolfoHasenbalg& Castaldo Ltd., D Construction,Central Sod Farms, Inc., and Angelo Kleronomos of Property Concepts, Inc. also at the Accelerando level of $5,000 or more
- Integral Construction and Quick Signs, Oswego, at the Motif level of $1,000 or more
So far, our generous community partners have contributed more than $552,000 to making Venue 1012 a reality for Oswego.
Subsequent phases will include additional landscaping, semi-permanent seating, entranceway paver bricks, art installations, permanent restrooms, concession stand, playground, walking paths, and improvements to the bandshell.
Residents and organizations can help jump-start the second phase 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. A brick paver entranceway featuring commemorative bricks is also planned.
More information, including donor levels and a form to get on the commemorative brick waiting list, are available at www.oswegoil.org/venue1012.
—Village government of Oswego