Community members are invited to a grand celebration and inaugural lighting of the new Holland Theatre marquee on Saturday, July 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“The marquee is a wonderful addition to our theater,” said Holland board president Kris Swisher, who helped lead the Light Up the Holland campaign that raised marquee funds. “The community showed incredible support for this project, and we can’t wait to celebrate together!”
Planning for the evening has taken place with support from Bellefontaine’s Downtown Business Partnership. The event will include free entertainment, food trucks, and DORA drinks outside the theater, and the exciting moment at sundown when the marquee is lit for the first time.
Made possible by generous local business and individual donations with a matching grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation, the marquee was built by Wagner Sign Co. in Elyria.
Installation began in April, but the originally scheduled celebration was postponed due to construction delays and structural repairs.
The marquee is a replica of the original that graced the front of the theater when it opened in 1931, updated with state-of-the-art technology and safety standards. The blade of the original marquee was removed in the 1950s due to city code changes, and the rest of the marquee was removed in the 1960s due to street expansion and traffic.
Major donors will be treated to dinner and drinks inside the theater prior to the lighting. Leading the way with donations of $100,000 each were Tonia Terebuh and the Laird A. Lile Family Foundation in honor of Levi W. and Nancy Nicholl Lile.
