ABOVE: The Fairmont Opera House. Its Board of Directors is going to continue the Capital Campaign into 2026.

FAIRMONT– “It’s encouraging that it’s not over,” said Blake Potthoff, Executive Director of the Fairmont Opera House (FOH) as, on Tuesday, at the conclusion of 2025, the Board of Directors announced that it would be extending its Capital Campaign beyond the original year-end deadline to raise the needed $4 million to repair its roof and thus save the historic building.

The Opera House was forced to close to the public in December of 2023 after structural engineers discovered that the repairs would be more invasive than originally anticipated.

In July of 2024, the Fairmont Opera House launched its Capital Campaign, at which point it officially shared that $4 million would need to be raised by the end of 2025 or the building would face closure.

Built in 1901, The Fairmont Opera House is nearly 125 years old and not only one of Fairmont’s most historic buildings, but also the oldest operating theater in the state of Minnesota.

To date, over $1 million has been raised and pledged to the project so far.

“To have the community support us in this way and continue to show up and show out and donate is really impactful and important. It’s allowed us to continue to do what we need to do to continue to fundraise and reopen,” said Potthoff.

He added that without the donations already received, the Board of Directors wouldn’t have been able to extend the fundraising deadline.

“We’ve been fortunate,” Potthoff said.

Heading into 2026, he said that they will continue to reach as many people as possible in as many ways and in as many venues as possible.

They will also continue to go after any kind of grants available.

Admittedly, due to inflation, Potthoff said they’re estimating a 16 percent increase, bringing the total amount needed closer to $4.4 million. This means that about $3.5 million is still needed to fix the building.

“We’re going to do everything we can to keep turning stones to raise that money,” Potthoff said.

As for how long the extension will last, Potthoff said he was unsure as a definite date had not been set, but he did confirm that it would extend into 2026.