City of Elkhart and The Lerner Theatre are thrilled to welcome back Celebration Under The Stars featuring Boyz II Men and The Jacksons on Saturday, August 29th, 2026 at 7:00pm.This free community celebration, presented by The Elkhart County CVB and Friends of The Lerner, among others is an unforgettable evening that blends Elkhart’s musical heritage with world-class production. Set against the backdrop of Central Green, this year’s event will transform the space into another dynamic, high-energy atmosphere. Celebration Under the Stars showcases the very best of Elkhart: a community rooted in music, driven by creativity, and committed to creating extraordinary experiences.
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men redefined popular R&B and continue to tour with their timeless hits that appeal to fans across all generations. The band has penned and performed some of the most celebrated classics of the past three decades. Music lovers can expect favorites such as “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day” and “Motownphilly.”
The group’s four GRAMMY® Awards are just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout their 30 plus-year career, Boyz II Men has also won a whopping nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards, three Billboard Music Awards and a MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Boyz II Men’s accolades also include receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Casino Entertainment Award for the group’s acclaimed residency at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, which launched in 2013.
The trio holds the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time, with an astounding 64 million albums sold. The reason is abundantly clear — for the past three decades, Boyz II Men has given fans a rich catalog of hits filled with smooth harmonies and enduring themes and for Boyz II Men, the hits just keep on coming. The group continues to bring its legendary act to stages across the world.
In 2021, Boyz II Men starred in ABC’s “A Very Boy Band Holiday,” “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes,” and “CMT Crossroads Christmas: Brett Young & Friends.” In November 2023, Boyz II Men starred in a national television spot by recreating the iconic Chili’s Baby Back Ribs jingle, which turned into a viral sensation for the next generation.
The trio opened the 2024 NFL season by singing the national anthem for Monday Night Football and performed it again at F1 in Las Vegas last November. Ending the 2024 holiday season Boyz II Men also collaborated with the Kelce brothers for a new Christmas song.
In 2025, the group announced they will be working on a biopic movie and documentary. Most recently they are featured on music from the Disneyland Resort 70th celebration with their rendition of “Rainbow Connection.” As they continue to tour across the world the group just wrapped a sold-out tour run called “The New Edition Way.”
The Jacksons
The Jacksons recently celebrated 50 years as one of the most successful groups in music history.
Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, five brothers from Gary, Indiana, known originally as The Jackson 5 and later The Jacksons, rose to fame for their combination of extraordinary musical talent and spectacular choreography. They earned the status of pop royalty in the music world, providing the launching pad for what would become Michael Jackson’s legendary solo career.
The group found international success at Motown in 1969, their first single “I Want You Back” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their next 3 singles “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There” followed suit, The Jackson 5 literally making music history with 4 debut singles all reaching No. 1. They ultimately scored 17 Top Forty singles on the Hot 100, following with hits such as “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Dancing Machine”. To date, their Motown recordings alone have sold in excess of 200 million.
In 1976, the group left Motown for Epic Records, and changed their name to The Jacksons. They released five hit albums between 1976 and 1981, including The Jacksons (1976), Destiny (1978) and Triumph (1980), from which they produced the smash singles “Enjoy Yourself”, “Blame It On The Boogie”, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Can You Feel It.” In 1983, the band performed on “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever”, and subsequently released the Victory album the following year, (which included the Billboard No. 3 hit ‘State Of Shock’ featuring Mick Jagger). When the brothers united for The Victory Tour in 1984, it became the highest-grossing concert series ever staged in the United States.
The Jacksons have become the inspiration for several generations of boy bands, including Backstreet Boys, New Edition, N*SYNC, New Kids on the Block, and more recently, the Jonas Brothers, One Direction, and many more.
In 1980, The Jacksons were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. At the BMI Urban Awards in 2008, The Jacksons were honored as BMI Icons. In 2016, “ABC” joined “I Want You Back” to be inducted into the Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame.
Event Venue
410 S Main St, Elkhart, IN, United States, Indiana 46516
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
