Celebrate the Grotto on Sept. 1

For a city the size of Greater Sudbury, there is a surprising number of people who still don't know the Grotto exists.

The Grotto is located on a piece of land just off Van Horne Street in downtown Sudbury. It was started in the early 1900s, but has really started to take shape within the last six or seven years, said Lucio Fabris, who is organizing the Night at the Grotto fundraiser on Sept. 1.

John Masotti is pretty much the “Michelangelo” of the Grotto, he said.

“I've watched him since Day 1 put this place together, and I think it's really important to celebrate that,” said Fabris. “There are plenty of other people, like Roberto Armiento and Arnel Michel, who have helped to develop the Grotto,too. It's a beautiful, peaceful place.”

Celebrating the remarkable place it is, is the reason behind Night at the Grotto, Fabris said.

“We want to expose the entire community to how beautiful it is. There are a lot of people who have never been here before, and we want people to know it's open to everyone.”

Night at the Grotto is also a chance to recognize the amazing musicians in this community, he said. Throughout the night, there will be performances by Jeff Wiseman, Iona Reed with Pandora Topp, Sarah Craig and Jim Matt, Jamie Dupuis and the Young Sudbury Singers.

And, while the evening is meant to celebrate the Grotto,  “we thought it would be nice to give back to the community,” Fabris said.

While some of the funds raised will be used to help maintain the Grotto, the lion's share will be going to several local charitable organizations including the NEO Kids Foundation, the Northern Initiative for Social Action (NISA) and the Janis Foligno Foundation.

“They've all been doing some amazing work,” Fabris said.

There will be plenty of seating at the site, he said, so you don't have to bring your own chair. 

Night at the Grotto starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the following locations: A&J Home Hardware and Gloria's Restaurant (469 Bouchard St), Old Rock Cafe (212 Minto St. and 93 Durham St.) and P&M Kouzzina (1463 Lasalle Blvd).

“We've had amazing ticket sales already,” Fabris said. “We want to get as many people here as possible.”

People may park at the Grotto, across the street at École Publique Jeanne-Sauvé, or in the Sudbury Theatre Centre parking lot. A shuttle service will be available from STC. For those with mobility issues, there will be golf carts to take people from the parking lot up to the concert.