The Sertoma Benefit Concert is returning to its regular format this year.
After going virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 14th edition is back in person from 6 p.m. to midnight Nov. 24 at Pewter Hall, 850 W. Sweet St., Brownstown.
The music acts include Forrest Turner, Lonesome Crow, Dave and Whitney and James Dupré.
The silent auction will feature a variety of items, including a racing helmet autographed by Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett, a 2017 game-used Indiana University football helmet, Brownstown Central Braves cornhole boards, jewelry and John Mellencamp autographed items.
Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance at Bluebird Cafe in Vallonia, Pewter Hall or Knotts and Tangles in Brownstown or The Brooklyn Pizza Co. in Seymour. No tickets will be sold at the door. Ages 6 and under will be admitted free. Tables of eight may be reserved by calling Pewter Hall at 812-358-0919.
Small Town Satisfied also will have its food truck onsite to purchase food, and adults 21 and older may buy drinks at the full cash bar. There will be raffles and a 50/50 drawing, too.
Adam Nicholson, who organizes the concert with his wife, Kim, said it was an easy decision for him to go back to an in-person concert after talking to the host site, places selling tickets and performers.
“It just seemed like they were excited to be doing something in person again,” he said. “The bands I know are excited about it, and I know that they haven’t had a chance to play as much as they probably have wanted to in the last year or so, so for those guys to be able to have a live event and a live show, people watching in person again, I’m sure that they are just as excited as I am.”
With Dupré having a big following on social media, he suggested to Nicholson to do last year’s concert and silent auction on Facebook Live. Between Dupré singing, auction items were displayed.
In the end, around $3,000 was raised for Sertoma Christmas Miracle, which also changed its format last year from providing gifts to Jackson County families in need at Christmastime to giving out $35 gift cards.
“I was really pleased with how it went, and I felt like some of the items on the auction actually brought more money than we’ve ever done before,” Nicholson said.
This year, Sertoma Christmas Miracle, which is organized by the Jackson County Sertoma Club, is back to its original format, so that also helped Nicholson solidify his decision in returning to the in-person concert.
“I love those guys, and they’ve always treated me well and greeted me with open arms to do this and help them out,” he said. “I know that they work really hard on other stuff. They work really hard after this is over getting all of the applications and buying the presents. … They are a great group. It makes you feel good to know that you’re helping a cause right here locally where you can actually see the difference that it makes.”
Nicholson said he also appreciates the sponsors and music acts for supporting the fundraiser. David Campbell, a Seymour native, has been involved in the concert from the start except for last year when it changed to an online event, and the other acts have performed multiple times.
“They are a bunch of good guys, too,” Nicholson said. “They all love it, and any band that you ask, it’s almost to the point now to where they are honored that they get asked. They are just a great group of guys that like to help. … If I didn’t have those guys helping me out, it would be hard to have the show.”
Nicholson also credits family support to the success of the concert, which has raised more than $60,000 since its inception.
“Everybody loves to help,” he said. “It’s great to have my family that helps me. … We have the support of family behind us on both sides, and I know it makes them feel good that we do it, too.”