Summer’s Last Dance to benefit SD Make-A-Wish Foundation

• Jimmy Weber

Jimmy Weber, a country performer from Alexandria, will headline this year’s Summer’s Last Dance at Lake Mitchell in a benefit for the South Dakota Make-A-Wish Foundation.
• Rebecca Culhane

Rebecca Culhane, Mitchell, will perform at the third annual Summer's Last Dance music festival to support the South Dakota Make-A-Wish Foundation.

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Sometimes all it takes is a little fun to forget the challenges in life.

That’s the mission the South Dakota Make-A-Wish Foundation hopes to achieve through granting wishes to kids with life-threatening diseases.

The third annual Summer’s Last Dance is set for 5 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lake Mitchell Day Camp. The event is a fundraiser for the South Dakota Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tickets are $10 for adults and available in advance at County Fair Foods and the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are sold the day of the event, too. Children 12 and younger are free if accompanied by an adult.

Last year, the South Dakota organization raised enough money to grant around 60 wishes statewide, said Dale Odegaard, of Mitchell, who helped organize the event.

“As far as expense-wise, an average wish is between $6,000 and $7,000,” he said.

“These are things we hope are really rewarding for the child and takes away from all the medical things the family has to contend with. It’s just a getaway to forget about all that,” Odegaard added

This year’s music festival includes a mix of local and regional talent.

Jimmy Weber, of Alexandria, will headline the show. Weber, a country singer, performed last year, too.

“He was a big hit. We were excited to get him back,” said Brad Buche, who also helped organize Summer’s Last Dance.

Joining Weber in the lineup will be Mitchell’s Rebecca Culhane. Culhane was a contender last winter on Fox’s hit television series “American Idol.” She released her second album, “North of Normal,” in July.

Regional acts include Kelsey Nord, of Omaha, who competed on ABC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and Kelsey Doll, from Iowa, who Buche said is “young, but really talented.” The Sioux Falls contemporary jazz group Polyphase opens for Weber.

In addition to the live music, a variety of unique foods will be served. Pheasant poppers, walleye and crab dishes will be available, along with Mexican food from Corona Village. Culver’s will serve ice cream, and beverages including beer and wine will be served.

Last year, Buche said there were about 300 at the event, which was twice as many as attended the first Summer’s Last Dance. With such growth over the past two years, Buche said he and other organizers are hoping for 500.

“The idea would be to continue to have this grow to a two-day event. We’re still at the day camp, but we hope to outgrow that. (Summer’s Last Dance) is a great time and on top of that, you’re raising funds for a great organization,” he said.

Last year, Brandon Weber, Mitchell, was a recipient of a South Dakota Make-A-Wish. He was sent to Disney World. Other Mitchell wishes granted included a camper, a Rainbow play system and a Cabela’s shopping spree.

Tags: lake mitchell, summers last dance, make-a-wish foundation, jimmy weber, rebecca culhane, life, entertainment, music, local, concert, dance