TERRE HAUTE —
Thousands ushered in the holiday weekend with fireworks and music Friday night as The Landing helped “Light up the Wabash.”
“The feedback has been unbelievable,” event organizer Denise Story said inside The Landing, formerly the Elks Club at North Fourth Street and Fort Harrison Road. “This is going to be an annual event.”
Three-parties-in-a-party featured live music by the MacDaddy’s, as well as a dueling pianos program from Detroit, the participants of which have performed for President Barack Obama and country-western star Carrie Underwood.
By 7:30 p.m. the dining room was packed with about 250 piano fans eating BBQ ribs, smoked pork and pulled chicken, grilled corn on the cob and strawberry shortcake. Waiting for the program they’d paid $250 per table to see, people milled about in summer clothes while Jimmy Buffett music played on the stereo.
In addition to the music and food, fireworks kicked off at 10 p.m., and overall, Story estimated between 2,500 and 3,000 people would attend the festivities which double as a fundraiser for the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
“My goal is to raise $50,000,” she said of the night where a Geo Tracker would be auctioned off.
Museum director Lynn Hughes said packing the property with summer celebration was “a great way to bring the community together.”
The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is just $400,000 short of its $5 million-plus goal, but it plans to open the new 26,000-square-foot facility at Eighth Street and Wabash Avenue in September.
Dr. Venkat Reddy, a partner in The Landing’s ownership, was enjoying food and friends Friday evening, excited at the turnout.
“This is good, fantastic,” he said, noting he and his partners are proud to donate their efforts to the museum’s cause. “That’s our main goal for tonight,” he said of raising money. Reddy said he himself has three children who regularly travel to the children’s museum in Indianapolis. Getting the local facilities up and ready is something about which his whole family is excited, he said.
Terre Haute Children’s Museum volunteer Patti Strong was handling bids at the silent auction, where gift baskets, wine, paintings and even an Orange Crush bicycle were on-hand for the taking.
“Actually it’s going pretty well,” she said of the bids by early evening.
Reddy and Story said the group hopes to make the event an annual festivity for many Independence Day celebrations to come.
Brian Boyce can be reached at brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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Related Photos
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Outdoor setting: Some of the people attending the "Light up the Wabash" celebration Friday evening chose the patio area with tiki torches and citronella candles helping to keep the bugs at bay
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Movers: Denise Story talks with Children's Museum executive director Lynn Hughes and Venkot Reddy of The Landing during the "Light up the Wabash" event Friday evening.
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Family time: Sharing supper together at the "Light up the Wabash" event Friday evening were Frank Mershon and his daughter Deana Conner, Sophia Conner, Mershons' wife Sandy, and Ellie Conner
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Fire in the hole: Jim Stanfill of KC Crackers turns away from the tube as an "announcer" or aerial bomb, shoots skyward. Some 1,000 shells were fired off as the fireworks portion of the "Light up the Wabash" event Friday night at The Landing. KC Crackers with Aerial Arts will put on the fireworks display Sunday night at Fairbanks Park, this time using some 1,800 shells.
Discussion
'Light up the Wabash' kicks of holiday weekend
Event brings family fun, funds for Children’s Museum
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