After years of dreaming, planning, designing, building, and believing, Hemlock Public School District is proud to invite the entire community to celebrate the soft opening of the new Hemlock Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
This remarkable facility represents far more than bricks and mortar. It stands as a symbol of what can happen when a community believes in its children, invests in the future, and works together toward a shared vision.
The community is invited to experience the new Performing Arts Center through guided tours, enjoy local food trucks, visit with friends and neighbors, and take part in an evening celebration highlighting the students, staff, and community members who helped make this dream a reality.
Community Open House
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Open House Tours
Student Ambassadors
Community Displays
Art Gallery Open
Food Trucks
6:00 p.m.
Community Celebration Program featuring:
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Student Performances
Musical Entertainment
Community Recognition
A look back at the journey that made this possible
"This building belongs to everyone," said Matt Wesener, President of the Hemlock Board of Education. "Our community believed in a vision that would create opportunities for generations of students, and together we made it happen. The Performing Arts Center reflects what Hemlock has always been about—working together, investing wisely, and believing that our children deserve opportunities every bit as extraordinary as those found anywhere else. We cannot wait to open these doors and welcome everyone inside."
Designed to serve students from preschool through graduation while also welcoming community organizations, regional performances, educational programs, and special events, the new Performing Arts Center is expected to become one of the premier gathering spaces in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
District leaders believe its impact will extend well beyond the stage.
As visitors attend concerts, musicals, plays, competitions, guest speakers, and community events throughout the year, local restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, retail stores, and other businesses will benefit from increased activity as families and guests spend time in Hemlock before and after performances.
The Performing Arts Center represents another investment in the long-term vitality of the entire community.
"This building was designed to inspire," said Danyelle Hillman, Director of the Hemlock Performing Arts Center. "Every student who walks onto this stage deserves to feel that their talents matter. Whether they are performing in their very first elementary concert, presenting a school project, competing with a robotics team, participating in a community event, or taking the stage during a high school musical, we want every person who enters this facility to know they belong here. This Performing Arts Center was built to celebrate creativity, learning, and community."
The Performing Arts Center is one of several transformational projects completed as part of the voter-approved, tax-neutral bond initiative that has reshaped learning environments across the district. The Hemlock Performing Arts Center is one of several transformational improvements made possible through the voter-approved, tax-neutral bond initiative, joining projects such as Legend Gymnasium, Wallace Field and Krueger Track, enhanced safety and security upgrades, elementary improvements, and numerous classroom renovations across the district.
At the same time, Hemlock Public School District has continued to maximize outside resources by securing grants, donations, and strategic partnerships that have brought additional transformational projects to life, including the Lockwood STEM Center and the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse. Together, these investments reflect the district's ongoing commitment to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while continually expanding opportunities for students and strengthening the entire community.
"This day is about gratitude," said Superintendent Dr. Don Killingbeck. "None of this happens without a community that believes in its schools. Every vote, every conversation, every encouraging word, every person who chose to invest in the next generation helped make this possible. We are incredibly thankful.
The Hemlock Performing Arts Center will be home to unforgettable concerts, plays, musicals, ceremonies, celebrations, and community events for decades to come. It will give our students a stage worthy of their talent while creating new opportunities that bring visitors into our community and support our local businesses. This is another example of how investing in education strengthens an entire community.
We hope every resident joins us on August 18. Come walk the halls, sit in the center, celebrate what we've accomplished together, and imagine what is still to come. The best chapters of Hemlock's story are still being written."
The district reminds guests that this is a soft opening, allowing the community to experience the facility before every finishing detail is complete. While a few final punch-list items may still be underway, the district wanted residents to have the opportunity to celebrate together before students officially begin the 2026-2027 school year.
The Hemlock Performing Arts Center is more than a building.
It is a promise.
A promise that students in a small town deserve world-class opportunities.
A promise that the arts matter.
A promise that when a community pulls together, there is no limit to what can be accomplished.
The Hemlock Public School District invites every resident, alumni, business owner, family, and friend of the Huskie Pack to join this historic celebration.
Together, we dreamed.
Together, we built.
Now, together, let's open the doors.
#HemlockHuskies #PerformingArtsCenter #PullTheSled