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Shelter Fountain Celebration
The centerpiece of Shelter's Home Office is our magnificent Fountain—a Columbia landmark for more than half a century. Each spring, hundreds gather to enjoy music, family fun all around the Shelter Fountain. The event features live music, clowns and fun yard games for the kids. Bring your family and help Shelter celebrate the Fountain.
The 56th annual Fountain Ceremony will be held in the spring, usually late April or early May. Due to precautions being taken for COVID-19, the celebration is being postponed. Alternate plans are being discussed. Pease check back later for more details.
Concerts in the Gardens
Due to precautions being taken for COVID-19, the 45th season of Shelter's annual Concerts in the Gardens series is being postponed. Shelter will continue to monitor the situation and might pursue a schedule for the fall if it is deemed safe.
When shows are held, there are an average of about 1,000 or more music lovers congregating in the Shelter Insurance Gardens, where well-groomed, colorful flora offset a cedar concert gazebo. The events evoked nostalgia for a time gone by when traditional summer outside band concerts were a regular thing in communities.
Each show is free and starts at 7 p.m., Sundays in the Shelter Insurance Gardens. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Shelter Insurance Gardens are at the northwest corner of Shelter’s Home Office grounds at 1817 W. Broadway in Columbia, Missouri, and are open to the public to enjoy throughout the week. Details for the 44th season will be determined at a later time.
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Each year, the Shelter family celebrates the spirit of the holiday season with the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Shelter co-workers and members of the community gather to hear West Middle School's band and choir, visit with each other and with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and of course, to see the lighting of the tree on the lawn of our home office location in Columbia, Missouri.
The 55th annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony was canceled in 2020 due to precautions being taken for COVID-19. Shelter is hopeful to host the 56th annual event in December 2021. It will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and make a decision on the event at a later time in 2021.