A century of culture: Elkhart celebrates 100 years of The Lerner Theatre
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The Elkhart Jazz Festival began its 2025 season with a fitting tribute to one of the city’s most iconic landmarks: The Lerner Theatre.
Marking its 100th anniversary, the storied venue was honored at a private reception hosted by the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the city of Elkhart. Held in the Crystal Ballroom at The Lerner, the event spotlighted the region’s rich arts heritage while setting the stage for a weekend of world-class jazz performances.
Among the evening’s most poignant moments was the recognition of Esther Buchanan, a longtime Lerner Theatre volunteer who, remarkably, was born the same year the venue opened, 1924.
“We’re celebrating 100 years and there are not many of you that have been here for 100 years,” said Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson. “We also celebrated 100 years for Hotel Elkhart and we want to acknowledge those that we know are true Elkhartians. Esther volunteered at the Lerner for many years.”
The event was a celebration not just of the theater’s longevity, but of its cultural significance. Mayor Roberson acknowledged the Lerner’s continued evolution, including the formation of a new leadership team that begins work next week.
Danny Reynolds, a founding member of Elkhart Festivals Inc. (EFI), shared personal reflections on The Lerner’s legacy and its deep ties to downtown life. Reynolds’ owns Stephenson’s, a 94-year old clothing store downtown.
“Stevenson’s was actually a sponsor of that first jazz festival 37 years ago, back in 1988. Those early years in the 80s and 90s were great years for the Jazz Festival and downtown Elkhart,” Reynolds said. “We fell upon some dark years in downtown Elkhart but like Stevenson’s, the Jazz Fest prevailed.”
Reynolds credited the rebirth of The Lerner and nearby institutions like Indiana University South Bend for reinvigorating the city’s cultural heartbeat.
“If Elkhart is the city with a heart, then the Lerner is the beat of that heart,” he said. “With the generosity of folks like you, there is no question that the beat is going to continue to go on.”
The evening also acknowledged the lasting impact of the Elkhart Jazz Festival itself, which has brought major acts like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, David Sanborn and Bruce Hornsby to the city over the decades.
Jon Hunsberger, executive director of the Elkhart County CVB, noted the festival’s foundational role in shaping the city’s identity and economic future.
“We do the Elkhart Jazz Festival because it is a living embodiment of who we are as a culture and a community,” Hunsberger said. “In 2023 and 2024, the economic impact of visitors alone coming to Elkhart County was over $850 million. That’s around $550 million that goes directly into the pockets of most of our local businesses.”
The kickoff reception was attended by local arts leaders, city officials and longtime supporters. The gathering reflected both the theater’s past and its forward-looking role in the community.
All proceeds from commemorative merchandise marking The Lerner’s centennial are being directed to the Friends of the Lerner, a nonprofit that supports continued entertainment and cultural programming at the theater.