The Bonifas Arts Center in Escanaba is throwing a block party Friday, Sept. 4, to raise money for its fire-damaged theater.

The Raise the Roof Block Party runs from 5 to 10 p.m. with $10 admission. Children under 5 and first responders get in free. Advance tickets were available through the center's online registration page, though that registration has since closed. Proceeds go toward rebuilding the center's theater, which was heavily damaged after a lightning strike caused a fire, WZMQ 19 News reported.

Gallery Director Kate Oman told WZMQ the renovation is still underway.

"We're getting our ceiling put in, so that's taking a little bit of time, but there's over a mile's worth of trim that they have to put in," Oman said.

After the fire, which occurred May 15, 2025, Bay College provided its Besse Center Theater to the Players de Noc theater group so performances could continue, the college said in a March 2026 Facebook post.

The Escanaba City Council unanimously approved a partial street closure for the event at its Aug. 20 meeting, according to council minutes. The closure covers 1st Avenue South from 8th Street through the intersection of South 7th Street, and South 7th Street from the alley south to 1st Avenue South.

The block party features live music by The Make Believe Spurs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Winging It. Family activities and bucket raffles fill out the evening.

The fundraiser coincides with a new exhibit at the Bonifas. The "Bending Reality" surrealism show opens with a reception Thursday, Sept. 3, and features dozens of pieces, including an etching by Salvador Dalí. Regional artist Brian Burroughs and late Chicago artist and ad designer Sherman Henry Linton also have work on display. Upstairs, an immersive installation by William Oman, Kate Oman's father, is also on view.

No fundraising goal has been publicly announced.