by Sarah DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
Shadow Lake is opening its doors for a different kind of night out this October, combining dinner, drinks, live music, and dueling pianos for the first installment of what organizers hope will become an annual entertainment series.
The evening is designed to be more than a concert or dinner event. Guests will move from cocktails and charcuterie to acoustic music, a chef-prepared dinner, dessert, and an interactive performance by Felix & Fingers Dueling Pianos.
For Shadow Lake, the event is also an opportunity to introduce the venue to people who may have driven past the property without realizing what is tucked away nearby.
“We want people to leave saying, ‘I had no idea this was right here in Geneseo,’” organizers said. “Our goal is for people to come out, relax, have a great dinner and drinks, laugh a lot, enjoy the music, and experience the venue in a completely different way.”
Doors open at 5 p.m. with cocktail hour and an artisan charcuterie display. Beer and wine are included with admission, while mixed drinks, seltzers, liquor, and specialty shots will be available for purchase.
At 5:30 p.m., Geneseo musician Paxtyn Sherbeyn will begin performing live acoustic music as guests mingle and settle in.
Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., with Sherbeyn continuing to provide music during the meal.
Chef Michelle Mulgrew of Dubuque is preparing the evening's dinner, along with the artisan charcuterie display and cheesecake dessert bar.
Felix & Fingers Dueling Pianos will take over the music around 7:15 p.m., beginning with approximately 30 minutes of dinner and background music before the main show starts at 7:45 p.m.
The dueling pianos performance will include audience song requests, singing, comedy, and audience participation.
A cheesecake bar will open around intermission, and the evening is scheduled to conclude at 10 p.m.
“From start to finish, the night flows from cocktails and charcuterie, to acoustic music, dinner, dueling pianos, cheesecake and a full evening of entertainment,” organizers said.
While dueling pianos will headline the inaugural Shadow Lake Live, organizers say the concept isn't intended to be a one-time event. The goal is to make Shadow Lake Live an annual event while changing the entertainment from year to year.
Future editions could include a murder mystery, comedian, live music, or another type of entertainment. “The possibilities are endless, and we're excited to see what Shadow Lake Live can grow into,” organizers said.
The venue itself is prepared for one of the less predictable elements of an outdoor-adjacent October event in Illinois: the weather.
The Shadow Lake event space is beneath a fully covered tent with sides, providing protection from wind and precipitation. Heaters can also be placed throughout the space if temperatures turn cold.
“The weather may change, but the event will still go on,” organizers said.
Tickets are $100 per person, or $800 for a reserved table of eight. Admission includes the chef-prepared dinner, artisan charcuterie, cheesecake dessert bar, entertainment, beer, and wine.
Ticket sales close Oct. 17.
Shadow Lake Live: Dinner. Drinks. Dueling Pianos. will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Shadow Lake, 27340 E. 1350th St., Geneseo.