The LOT Downtown, which stands for “Live Outdoor Theater,” opened in Mansfield in 2016. The goal of the project was to provide a space to bring the community together and contribute to the revitalization efforts of Historic Downtown Mansfield.
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That goal is being met!
“The LOT has created a place for people, of all walks of life, to come together and enjoy the magic of live entertainment at no cost in the heart of Downtown Mansfield,” says Kat Orsak, the Executive Director of the LOT. “Every single person walks in with a smile on their face and is ready to have a good time with their friends and family.”
The LOT (110 S. Main St.) has hosted benefit concerts, fundraisers, and church services and is the anchor of many Downtown-wide special events and festivals. The Damn Torpedoes – A Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – closed the venue’s spring concert season, but the fall schedule is already filling up.
The first Movie Night under the stars will be “Paddington 2” at 8 p.m. on Sept. 1, followed by The Greatest Showman” on Oct. 26 and “Wonder” on Nov. 9. There’s also the upcoming Music Alley Music & Arts Festival, which is a day-long event on Sept. 8 hosted as a partnership between the City of Mansfield and the Mansfield Commission for the Arts.
Admission to these events, as well as parking in designated areas around the venue, are free to the public.
According to its website, The (LOT) stage symbolizes what brings us together as a family, as neighbors and ultimately as a community – a connection to a single idea, lit up beneath a spotlight. It creates opportunities for us to enjoy the company of otherwise strangers and forge new relationships. It teaches us how interdependent we are.
“These past seasons at The LOT have given us so much opportunity to bring free entertainment to Downtown Mansfield and has allowed us to bring many musicians that have drawn their own crowd of followers,” says Orsak, “These new people were able to visit Mansfield, eat at our restaurants, stay in our hotels and see the building excitement that is happening in our great city!”
There is no shortage of choices. In addition to local restaurants, various food trucks also park around the LOT during events to serve guests.
The LOT is not only a physical structure, it is also the designation for a 501(c)3 organization responsible for its funding, programs and its future. Since it is a nonprofit, the organization is always looking for volunteers – everything from ticket taker, usher, runner, clean up crew and more – to keep it running.
Orsak says she is currently booking bands and creating the lineup for the LOT’s 2019 season, so keep an eye on the venue’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for upcoming events and updates.
For more: thelotdowntown.com.
