FOLSOM – One of Folsom’s most recognizable cultural landmarks will celebrate a milestone next month as the Harris Center for the Arts marks 15 years of bringing world-class performances, educational opportunities and community events to the region. The celebration comes Aug. 15 with The Crystal Affair, a sold-out anniversary gala featuring an evening of food, wine and a special performance by the Folsom Lake Symphony that pays tribute to the venue’s opening night 15 years ago.
The Crystal Affair begins with an elegant pre-concert celebration from 5:30 to 7 p.m., featuring food, wine and other beverages before guests take their seats for The Best Movie Scores of John Williams, performed by the Folsom Lake Symphony at 7:30 p.m. The concert showcases some of legendary composer John Williams’ most iconic film scores, including music from Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jaws, Jurassic Park and Superman.
The performance holds special meaning beyond the music. When the Harris Center first opened its doors in 2011, the Folsom Lake Symphony became the very first organization to perform on its stage. Fifteen years later, the orchestra returns to help celebrate the venue’s anniversary, creating a full-circle moment that honors both organizations and the partnership they have shared since opening day.
While this year’s Crystal Affair has already sold out, the event serves as much more than an anniversary celebration. It is also the Harris Center’s signature fundraising event, with proceeds supporting essential facility improvements that will benefit both the performing arts center and its resident orchestra while helping ensure the venue continues serving the region for years to come.
The anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on how the Harris Center evolved from an ambitious vision into one of the Sacramento region’s premier performing arts destinations.
Originally conceived as a visual and performing arts facility for Folsom Lake College students studying theater, music, dance, visual arts and technical production, the project expanded dramatically after a 2003 feasibility study confirmed the need for a regional arts center capable of serving not only the college, but the greater community as well.
Following approval by the Los Rios Community College District Board of Trustees, the project received state funding, and construction of the $50 million, 80,000-square-foot facility began in July 2008. Funding came through a combination of a State Educational Facilities General Obligation Bond, Measure A bond funding, district resources and private donations to the Folsom Lake College Foundation.
The venue officially opened in February 2011 as Three Stages at Folsom Lake College and quickly established itself as a regional destination for arts and entertainment. By the end of its second full season, the facility had already welcomed more than 300,000 patrons through its doors.
In August 2012, the Los Rios Community College District Board renamed the facility the Harris Center for the Arts, honoring Chancellor Emeritus Brice Harris, whose leadership helped oversee the growth of the district, including the development of Folsom Lake College and the realization of a regional performing arts center for the community.
Today, the Harris Center hosts more than 400 public events annually and welcomes approximately 150,000 patrons each year. Its mission extends beyond presenting performances by providing opportunities for audiences throughout California’s Capital Region to experience artistic works, celebrate cultural traditions and participate in the creative process through presentations, partnerships with local arts organizations and productions developed on site.
The Harris Center’s impact was recognized almost immediately after opening. It received the Sacramento Business Journal’s Community Impact Award for its role as an educational and economic catalyst, with the publication noting the venue’s ability to generate millions of dollars in economic activity while serving as a world-class teaching facility for Folsom Lake College students.
The center was also named Project of the Year by Region Builders for the Sacramento region, recognizing its architectural design, construction and lasting impact on the community. Its marketing campaign earned top Crystal Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators, while the Arts and Business Council of Sacramento presented the Harris Center with its Arts Management Excellence Award, recognizing the venue’s rapid emergence as a premier cultural destination in eastern Sacramento County.
Over the past 15 years, the Harris Center has welcomed internationally acclaimed musicians, Broadway productions, comedians, dance companies, educational programs, community performances and countless local arts organizations, becoming a cornerstone of Folsom’s cultural identity while drawing visitors from throughout Northern California.
As guests gather for The Crystal Affair, they won’t simply be celebrating a sold-out gala or an evening of John Williams’ unforgettable music. They’ll be celebrating a venue that has become an integral part of the community, honoring the vision that brought it to life 15 years ago while helping ensure it continues enriching lives through the performing arts for generations to come.
Event preludes new symphony season
The Crystal Affair also serves as a fitting prelude to what promises to be another standout year for the Folsom Lake Symphony, which recently unveiled an ambitious 2026–27 concert season under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Peter Jaffe.
Now entering its 23rd season, the orchestra will present five concerts featuring celebrated masterworks, internationally acclaimed guest artists and a festive holiday program, continuing the musical tradition that has been intertwined with the Harris Center since opening night in 2011.
The season opens with a program featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Joshua Brown performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto, one of the most beloved works in the violin repertoire. Later in the season, acclaimed bass-baritone Jesús Vicente Murillo returns to headline the Symphony’s popular holiday concerts.
Another highlight brings Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux to the Harris Center stage for Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, one of the most celebrated and recognizable works ever written for classical guitar.
Audiences will also experience one of the most demanding and emotionally powerful works in the piano repertoire when internationally recognized pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
The season concludes on a grand scale with Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, featuring soprano Bianca Orsi, mezzo-soprano Monica Danilov, tenor Ashley Faatoalia, bass-baritone Cedric Berry, the Sacramento Master Singers and the Stockton Chorale.
“We are thrilled to present a season that combines artistic excellence, audience favorites and extraordinary guest performers,” Jaffe said. “From intimate musical expression to large-scale symphonic power, this season offers something for everyone.”
Season subscriptions are now available through the Harris Center Ticket Office. Subscribers receive priority seating before tickets are released to the general public, along with savings of up to 20 percent. Additional information is available at folsomlakesymphony.com.
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