Paramount Center Celebrating 100 Years With Block Party

(KNSI) – The Paramount Center for the Arts is closing down two blocks in downtown St. Cloud to celebrate its 100th birthday with a block party.

The block party is from 3:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 26th. Director of the Performing Arts at the Paramount Center for the Arts, Gretchen Boulka, says the free event is open to everyone.

“We’re really excited. This is our one big opportunity during our 100th anniversary to celebrate with the whole community. And we are shutting down St. Germain street on those two blocks right in front of the Paramount to have a block party.”

The party includes performances, artists’ booths, and demonstrations. There will be a kids’ activity area, some food trucks, and drinks.

During the block party, there will be recognition of St. Cloud’s COVID Heroes, who’ve been helping the community through the pandemic.

“We realize that the list of COVID heroes really is so long and so and you know, when we talk about essential workers, you know, the the list there is almost endless because everybody, we all have a role in this community and how we all work together. There’s going to be a banner that’s hung up at the block party that recognizes all the different groups. And then we’re hoping to have four different representations of some of the larger groups. Someone from healthcare, education, police and fire.”

The block party is one of multiple events honoring the building in the heart of St. Cloud’s historic downtown district. In July, an art sculpture was dedicated to St. Cloud, and more events are planned for the rest of the year.

The Paramount Center opened as The Sherman Theatre (named initially after well-known Minneapolis motion picture executive Harry A. Sherman. It was renamed the Paramount in 1930) on Christmas Eve in 1921. The silent film “Way Down East” was the beginning of a century of entertainment at the theatre, including Vaudeville acts, operas, concerts, Broadway road shows, animal acts, wrestling matches, speeches, political rallies, plays, and movies.

Schedule of Events:

3:00 p.m. event Begins

3:30 p.m. Buckets N Boards performance

5:30 p.m. SCSU Nepalese Student Association performance

7:00 p.m. Honoring St. Cloud’s Covid Heroes presentation

7:30 p.m. The Killer Vees: “I Am He Said – Celebrating the Music of Neil Diamond” concert – Bring your own chair

___