Kettering targets Fraze opening in late-July; city looks to fill jobs

Credit: NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

Credit: NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

The Fraze Pavilion’s season is now planned to start in late-July, and Kettering is still looking to fill seasonal jobs there.

Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman said this week the goal is to have the 2021 Fraze lineup announced later this month, with tickets being available shortly thereafter.

“It will be a short season obviously. But we are planning on having a season,” that would follow COVID-19 guidelines and wrap up in early-September, he said.

The city-owned 4,300-seat popular outdoor venue has not reopened since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After COVID-19 vaccines became more accessible and the number of Ohio cases started dropping, Kettering officials had targeted early- to mid-July for opening.

“We would love to make an announcement of who the acts are … in late May, so our customers will have the opportunity to start buying tickets in early June,” Schwieterman said.

“At this point that’s what we’re planning on,” he added. “We’re hoping that we’ll have increased capacities to put the shows on by the time we get into late July.”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in March amended an order to allow outdoor entertainment venues to admit up to 30% of their fixed, seated capacity.

Fewer than 1,000 daily coronavirus cases were reported Monday, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

The state’s 21-day average also dropped to 1,693 cases a day, after lingering around 1,700 to 1,800 cases in recent weeks.

DeWine also said earlier all COVID-19 health orders will be lifted when Ohio’s cases drop to 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks.

The statewide average was 155.6 per 100,000 as of Tuesday and last week’s was 185.8, according to the ODH website.

Meanwhile, Kettering has about 100 or more jobs that need to be filled in its parks, recreation and cultural arts department, including Fraze positions, Schwieterman said.

Fraze jobs for which the city is hiring include concessions and set up, according to its website. Applicants must be 18 years or older and hours vary by events.

Applications are available online at https://fraze.com.

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