Cambridge City will celebrate the opening of its new Creitz Park Pavilion with musical acts, a DJ and other activities during a free public event starting at 4 p.m. Friday, May 8.
The permanent stage sits at the edge of Creitz Park behind the town’s fire station at 127 W. Maple St. Festivities begin with a ribbon cutting and remarks at 4 p.m., followed by performances from seven Western Wayne entertainers in half-hour sets starting at 5 p.m. Jordan Payne will serve as DJ. Free food will be available beginning at 5 p.m. while supplies last. Limited bench seating is available; guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.
Event sponsors include Wayne Bank, Cen-Sor Security Systems, Forward Wayne County, Wayne County Foundation and the town of Cambridge City.
The pavilion, years in the making, grew out of the town’s master planning efforts shortly before the pandemic. Temporary stages hosted concerts in 2023 and 2024, but performances paused in 2025 during construction. $962,000 in funding came from multiple sources, including Lilly Endowment’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow VIII initiative, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, local American Rescue Plan Act allocations, SugarCreek and Wayne County’s tourism bureau.
Forward Wayne County announced the pavilion’s name in March after a public contest; Tonya Leguina’s suggestion was selected from finalists.
Town council president Jim McLane said projects like this are difficult for small towns to fund and credited community and partner support. He said the pavilion will expand arts and cultural programming, create gathering opportunities and strengthen community pride.
Additional events are already planned. Cambridge City Main Street has scheduled concerts for June 13 and Aug. 8, and Lincoln High School’s Class of 1976 is organizing a Sept. 12 reunion concert. Groups expressing interest in future use include Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Shakespeare Festival and Richmond Jazz Orchestra. The town’s park committee will coordinate scheduling.
The opening weekend also includes the town’s annual spring Antique and Vintage Market from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 9, along U.S. 40, featuring regional artisan and antique vendors, plus open shops and eateries.
If you go
- What: Creitz Park Pavilion grand opening
- When: Ribbon cutting and remarks at 4 p.m. Friday, May 8; concerts continue beyond 8 p.m.
- Where: Behind the fire station, 127 W. Maple St., Cambridge City
- Cost: Free
Performer lineup
- 5 p.m.: AJ Wetzel
- 5:30 p.m.: Scott Ross and Mitch Sherwood
- 6 p.m.: Paul Anguiano
- 6:30 p.m.: Lu and Paige Pitcock
- 7 p.m.: Sean Lamb and Janet Miller
- 7:30 p.m.: Jeff Sourbeer and Kyle Cross
- 8 p.m.: Downshift
A version of this article appeared in the April 29 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.