SPENCER, INDIANA –Three months ago, on the first Saturday in June, more than a thousand people were motivated to venture out on a rainy day to attend the Spencer Pride Festival. Although storms had battered the area, festival attendees visited the many vendors, which included not-for-profits White River Valley PFLAG, Rescue Farm, and Owen County Humane Society, among more than 60 other organizations and businesses who were represented at the marketplace. Free live entertainment and the first-ever Choose-Your-Own Raffle were both huge hits.
Now Spencer Pride is gearing up for another major event. Entitled “A Night at the Tivoli,” the event will consist of a public showing of The Birdcage in honor of Gay History Month in October. The film will be shown admission free at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, October 9th at the beautiful and recently restored and re-opened Tivoli Theater. The Tivoli, which offered free tours for attendees at the June 7th festival, is located in the heart of downtown Spencer. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend this community event.
Owen Valley Winery, a sponsor of the festival and a recently announced member of the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail, will have their tasting room open for special hours throughout the entire event. The tasting room is adjacent to the Tivoli. Although no alcohol can be taken from the winery into the theater, the tasting room will undoubtedly be a popular spot before and after the film and during intermission.
The popular local group Quarryland Men’s Chorus will be providing live entertainment during intermission.
“A Night at the Tivoli” will also feature a silent auction with items from the local art community. Everything from sculptures to paintings, will be available at the silent auction
This is the fourth year that Spencer Pride Inc. has held a film screening for Gay History month, but it is the first time that the event has been planned on such a grand scale at such an exquisite venue. An invitation-only VIP reception will be held prior to the film showing. Invited guests will include local elected officials and other community leaders, as well as event sponsors and underwriters. Live entertainment and tasty finger foods will put reception attendees in the mood for the critically-acclaimed film. Many individuals and businesses are sponsoring the event, including Susan Bookout & Deandra Wallace, and Jackie Hall & Lloyd Orr, who have made generous donations to ensure the event’s success.
The Birdcage is an Academy Award nominated film featuring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, and several other well-known actors. The film is a comedy that is sure to fill the Tivoli with laughter and tears of joy throughout the evening.
In addition to the Tivoli fundraiser, Spencer Pride, Inc. is coordinating educational displays in more than ten public libraries, a tradition it began five years ago. Most area libraries are participating, so individuals are encouraged to contact their local library to see if the LGBT History Month display will be available there in October. The organization will also have a special segment of their website devoted to featuring prominent public figures for LGBT History Month. A different individual will be featured each day.
For more information regarding Spencer Pride Inc., please visitwww.SpencerPride.org or send questions toinfo@SpencerPride.org.