Considered by many to be Orange City Arts’ flagship program, Onstage Orange City began in 2010, largely funded by the Orange City Betterment Board and the City of Orange City. Now in its 10th iteration, the hugely popular summer concert series is nearly 60% funded by local corporate sponsors who see the benefit of interacting with their potential customers in a unique and memorable way. The City of Orange City supports 10% of the program, and the remainder of the nearly $30,000 in total costs are drawn from Orange City Arts’ operating budget.
“This program has been amazing for our community,” says Orange City Arts Director Lindsay Bauer. “Can you even imagine other towns of our size being able to offer this kind of thing year after year? It says a lot about the people who live here and the dedication of our City and local business leaders.”
Onstage Orange City regularly draws individuals and families from all over Sioux County and beyond, and reaches a cumulative audience of nearly 6,000 people.
Highlights from the 2019 season include husband and wife duo Porter Union on June 5. Recently featured on USA Network’s “Real Country,” Porter Union won their audience’s—and judges’—hearts with their honest, heartfelt approach to country music.
On July 3, Max Hatt / Edda Glass will bring their incomparable sound, which has been described as “Americana-meets-jazz-meets-Billie Holliday” to Windmill Park. The new darlings of Wilco, NPR, Paste Magazine, Huffington Post, the Lincoln Center, and legendary Daytrotter recording studio, Hatt and Glass make friends wherever they go.
Double Iowa Hall of Famers NOLA Jazz (inductees into both the Jazz and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame) will paint the town red with New Orleans-style jazz on June 12, and Leaders of the Pack will invite audiences on a trip down memory lane with their 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s retrospective concert on August 7.
The season closer, the 5th Annual Arts on Central street art festival, will feature a Sioux County first: a Battle of the Bands, where regional artists battle it out for your vote. The festival generally reaches audiences of 2500-3,000 and provides opportunities for all ages to join in the art-making fun.
Onstage Orange City 2019 begins June 5th and is presented every Wednesday night through August 21st. The season schedule can be viewed in its entirety here.
