Jingle Bell Rock to ring out at Casino Theatre in Vandergrift

A rockin’ Christmas concert is coming to Vandergrift.

The annual Jingle Bell Rock holiday fundraiser concert returns to the Casino Theatre on Saturday after being canceled last year because of the pandemic.

The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Keeping closer to family-friendly event than epic rock show, the music will wrap up around 9:30 p.m.

The lineup includes Steel Mill Rising, SourMash, Murphy’s 56 East Band, and Heidi and The Hellcats. They’ll all perform classic and original holiday-­inspired tunes.

Co-organizers Linda Boarts and Tim Henry hope to raise much-needed funds for ongoing improvements and repairs to the Casino, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The event serves as a fundraiser, usually raising about $1,500.

Everyone involved in the show — including the bands — volunteers their time.

“We’re extremely happy to be back, and we really look forward to this show,” Boarts said. “We’ve performed this for about 25 years.”

“We had been closed all of last year because of covid, so the fact that we could open up this year and we’ve seen a nice response of people attending shows at the theater … gives us hope that next year will be even better,” said Janice Oberdorf, treasurer of the Casino.

The theater, built in 1900, needs a new roof. And volunteers with Casino Theatre Restoration Management are working to replace a structurally deficient fire escape.

Oberdorf said Vandergrift Council approved a roof replacement in October, awarding two contracts totaling just under $106,000 to Fuller Home Building.

The work is set to be done in the spring.

It will be paid for using funds Vandergrift received from the federal 2021 American Rescue Act.

In previous years, proceeds have benefited the borough fire department, Backpacks To Go, Meals On Wheels and local animal rescue shelters.

Boarts said she would like to see more shows booked at the venue, which seats about 450.

“It’s beautiful, and it’s becoming more like a museum and needs to be used,” Boarts said.

Oberdorf said theater revenues were down about $70,000 in 2020 because of a lack of bookings caused by the pandemic shutdown.

“Our goal is monthly shows at the Casino, but we don’t have the funds to pay for the bookings,” Boarts said. “We’re urging the public to support the theater by coming to this show.”