July 30, 2025
Angela Krile
Following the cancellation of the Lancaster Festival Wendel Stage concerts this week due to the devastating floods that devastated the concert grounds, new Lancaster Festival Music Director John Devlin and the Lancaster Festival Orchestra have announced they will be performing for the community at 8 p.m. Saturday evening, August 2, in the sanctuary of Fairfield Christian Church, 1965 N. Columbus Street in Lancaster. Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis with doors opening at 7 p.m.
“So much about the last 72 hours has been unexpected,” Devlin said. “What hasn’t been surprising is the awe-inspiring resilience that I’ve witnessed from the Lancaster community. Festival artists, volunteers, staff, board members, and local business owners have all rallied around a shared purpose: to create a meaningful, community-focused event for our orchestra as we close this extraordinary year. In challenging times, people turn to artists and to music for comfort and inspiration. This moment is a powerful opportunity for the community to come together, reflect on what’s been difficult, and find hope in each other—and in the music—for what we can rebuild together moving forward.”
Devlin said that while the details of the performance are still be created, the theme will be “Resilience.”
“I think the community deserves to be treated to the very best orchestral music, especially after this past week’s challenges,” said Lancaster Festival Board President Jeff Spangler. “The fact that Maestro Devlin and the orchestra not only offered this performance but are creating the event from the ground up in a matter of days is a true testament to the character of the orchestra, the spirit of community and, appropriately, our resilience.”
In addition to the musical performance, inspiring accompanying video footage will be provided by Innerphase Video Productions (IVP). The IVP team also will ensure that the concert music will be piped into the parking lot of the church so if the attendance surpasses capacity, people will still be able to experience the beautiful sounds of the live orchestra.
Admission to the event will be FREE, with donations encouraged to help offset the damages incurred by the recent storms to Lancaster Festival assets. Cash and checks will be accepted, and QR codes and links will be provided for online/credit card donations. For updates and additional information, please visit the Lancaster Festival’s Facebook page or www.lancasterfestival.org.
