Krannert Center for the Performing Arts will open its 2025-26 season Thursday, Sept. 4, with its annual Opening Night Party — coinciding this year with the 20th anniversary of the biennial ELLNORA Guitar Festival.
The free event, running from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., will feature four bands, food, drinks and family-friendly activities.
Sean Kutzko, KCPA’s assistant director of communications, described the vision of the Opening Night Party in an email interview to The Daily Illini.
“It’s a renewal for everyone,” Kutzko wrote. “We enjoy kicking off our season with a bang, one that everyone in the community and on campus can attend.”
The 20th anniversary of ELLNORA brings an ambitious lineup, including Grace Bowers and The Hodge Podge, Marel Hildago Quartet, BERTHA: Grateful Drag and The Messthetics, joined by James Brandon Lewis.
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Pulling off an event of this scale requires immense preparation early in the year.
Breana Brock, KCPA’s production coordinator for events, wrote via email that conversations about the 2025 Opening Night Party began last fall, with active planning ramping up in the spring.
“When it comes to scheduling, it’s not just scheduling our tech departments’ set-up times but the artists’ load in, rehearsal, soundcheck and knowing who is in what space when, avoiding overlap and congestion as much as possible,” Brock wrote.
Weather planning is also crucial for the indoor-outdoor hybrid event. KCPA works with a local meteorologist and always prepares backup indoor spaces for both performers and vendors.
While the music is the centerpiece of the night, there are numerous activities in store to make the event as immersive as possible.
Activities will include a glow-in-the-dark playground, a photo booth, face painting, children’s crafts, as well as food from Michael’s Catering, Intermezzo Café and Triptych Brewing.
Julieanne Ehre, KCPA’s assistant director of program and engagement, emphasized the importance of making the arts accessible to all generations in an email.
“Everyone is welcome at Krannert Center, including children,” Ehre wrote. “It’s important for the next generation of audiences and artists to be exposed to the arts and for parents to feel they can bring their kids here.”
KCPA’s Opening Night Party is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in the Champaign-Urbana community, as well as learn more about KCPA’s mission.
For anyone new to C-U or to KCPA, Ehre wrote a very simple message.
“You are welcome here!!!”
