2018 April PASO Magazine

EVENTS
to
light up
TICKETS GO ON SALE APRIL 2
ow in its third year, Paso Pops is anticipating
the largest gathering yet
at its new location, Paso Robles Event
Center at 2198 Riverside Avenue in Paso
Robles. The patriotic Boston Pops-style
annual musical celebration and fireworks
show is planned for July 4th.
Food, live music, local beer and wine,
and family-oriented activities and fireworks
are planned for the afternoon-into-evening
celebration. Paso Wine Man
personality and local musician Casey
Biggs will emcee the event. Travel Paso,
a 501(c)(6) organization, will be the title
sponsor for the event, and Cass Winery
and Firestone Walker Brewing Company
will return as community sponsors.
Food truck vendors will offer selections
for purchase and guests may also
bring picnic lunches if they prefer. Local
beer and wine will also be available for
purchase, as no outside alcohol will be
permitted. A faithful army of volunteers
will again donate their time and effort to
attend to logistics.
spectacular
Paso Robles Event Center
on July 4 th
By Melissa Chavez
The extravaganza will
be headlined by San Luis
Obispo Symphony and
new conductor Andrew
Sewell. The maestro, who
Andrew Sewell hails from New Zealand,
served 18 seasons as Music Director
for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
in Madison, Wisconsin, and previously
guest-conducted for SLO Symphony
at Classics in the Cohan in 2016. As a
teen, Sewell’s accomplished playing of
violin, cornet and piano helped propel a
budding career at age 16. Since then, he
has guest conducted at numerous distinguished
concert halls around the globe.
A three-year agreement between Paderewski
Festival, a local nonprofit organization
which sponsors the event, and
Paso Robles Event Center recently finalized
the venue change from Paso Robles
Horse Park, just southwest of Paso Robles
Airport.
“The reason for the move is simple,”
said founder Steve Cass. “We lost
$20,000 last year. Twenty-five percent of
the cost was used for the infrastructure
required for a 4,000-person event. Expenses
included the stage, porta-potties,
shuttle busses, rental tents, and traffic
controls – things that are not required at
Paso Robles Event Center.
“Our nonprofit, Paderewski Festival,
like others, struggles to keep afloat financially,”
said Cass. “Funds that we raise are
used to support our Youth Piano Competition,
cultural exchange, and the free
events held during the Paderewski Festival
week in November. It is our hope
that this event can supplant some of the
many smaller fundraisers we have traditionally
held throughout the year.”
Ease of setup inside the venue, a closer
proximity to Downtown and more efficient
ingress and egress will be a plus
for guests. Another important priority
for the Paso Pops team was to increase
availability of a comfortable shaded area,
particularly for children and those more
sensitive to summer heat. Cass explained
that the Paso Robles Event Center provides
ample protection from sun and
wind. General admission seating, located
in the bleacher areas, will also provide
better sightlines.
“At the Event Center, the Main Stage
seating area is in shade by 7:30 p.m., and
there are plenty of shade structures and
trees for the pre-show wine tasting, as
well as kids’ events,” said Cass.
“Paso Pops is run by volunteers. All revenue,
100 percent, go to our programs.
There are no salaried staff,” said Cass.
“Net proceeds all benefit Paderewski
Festival Youth Piano Competition and
the Youth Cultural Exchange program.”
Tickets are available for purchase on April 2. Options range
from General Admission ($20) to sponsored President tables
($3,500), which include perks such as wine tasting, gourmet
buffet, wine and beer, plus reserved parking. Vice-President
tables ($1,000) offer wine tasting and VIP parking. As always,
there are discounts for guests for active/retired military and students
with ID, and seniors over 60. Up to two children ages 12
and under are admitted free with one paid General Admission.
To learn more,
email Steve Cass at
steve@casswines.com
or call 805-239-0873.
Photo by Melissa Chavez
44 PASO Magazine, April 2018