News release from Visit Fort Wayne:
Smaller Venues Bring Big Business to Fort Wayne this Weekend
(May 2, 2013) – Lions, ballet and basketball, oh my! Several of Fort Wayne’s smaller venues will host big events this upcoming weekend, making it the busiest spring weekend in 2013. The Summit City is expecting over 9,000 meeting and tournament visitors from May 1-5, which will generate an estimated $1.5 million in new spending in our community.
Featured events include:
- The weekend’s most prestigious event is the Mid States Festival, a ballet festival hosted by the New American Youth Ballet from May 1-5. An estimated 400 dancers will participate in educational workshops at many downtown venues, including Arts United Center, Courtyard by Marriott, Fort Wayne Dance Collective Studio and University of Saint Francis Performing Arts Center. Three evening performances will be open to the public on May 2, 3 and 4 at the University of Saint Francis Performing Arts Center. Each performance begins at 7:00 p.m., and tickets costs $20. Festival information is available at www.midstatesregionalballet.org/festival.
- The Gym Rats Basketball Association will host its popular Bill Hensley Memorial Run and Slam All-Star Classic at Spiece Fieldhouse. From May 3-5, over 7,000 of America’s best prep basketball players will compete in one of the country’s most prominent youth hoops events. Information can be found at www.gymratsbasketballassociation.com.
- The Lions of Indiana will hold its annual state convention from May 2-5 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, hosted by the District 25B Lions Chapter. Special guest Wayne Madden, a native of Auburn, Ind. and president of Lions Club International, will give a presentation during the convention, while members will participate in chapter meetings and social events over four days.
Fort Wayne topped several state and regional cities to host many of these events, continuing our city’s success of bringing in quality meetings and sporting events to our community, in due part to first-rate venues and dynamic local advocacy.