December News from the Spirit

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest Best and Brightest!

Despite the crisis, we thought it was important to try to continue with some type of normalcy.

It is a beautiful sight to see the carloads of families driving into Bright Nights at Forest Park. They are filled with excitement and ready to take a magical journey through the magnificent holiday lighting displays. Now, they can enter Bright Nights until 9:30pm!

It was even more meaningful on Frontline Workers Night and Military and Emergency Responders Night. The lines were long and we had an impressive line-up of greeters both evenings.

We look forward to welcoming you to Bright Nights this year!

-- Judy Matt

President

Hours Extended for Bright Nights

With permission from the state, Bright Nights at Forest Park’s entrance will be open nightly until 9:30pm. Since opening on November 25^th, cars were not allowed to enter after 8:45pm. This means an additional 45 minutes of holiday cheer during a time when it is needed the most.

Special thanks to the hard work and tenacity of a team of Spirit of Springfield and Bright Nights’ cheerleaders. They include Spirit of Springfield Board Chair, Attorney Melinda Phelps, and Vice Chair, John Sjoberg, Paul Picknelly, Dr. Mark Keroack and Jane Albert from Baystate Health, Major General Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General for the Massachusetts National Guard, and former State Representative Dennis Murphy.

To follow COVID-19 safety protocols, tickets must be purchased in advance, online at brightnights.org or at Big Y World Class Markets.

To learn more, visit brightnights.org.

Bright Nights Opens with Dr.'s Approval

Bright Nights at Forest Park opened for its 26^th season with a flip of a switch, or many switches, and the approval from Baystate Heath’s President, Dr. Mark Keroack and Mercy Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Roose.

They joined Mayor Domenic Sarno, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt, Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director for the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management, Helen Caulton-Harris, Springfield Health and Human Services Commissioner, Spirit of Springfield Board Members, sponsors, supporters and Anthony Cignoli, who served as the master of ceremonies.

Hundreds of visitors took advantage of the opening night’s $6 admission, the price that was charged when Bright Nights opened in 1995. With the new online ticket sales, the front gate elves were able to process tickets faster and safely.

Frontline Workers Welcomed to Bright Nights

To say thank you to the frontline workers who have been working through the coronavirus pandemic, the Spirit of Springfield gave them the gift of Bright Nights on Monday, November 30^th. They were greeted by Mayor Domenic Sarno, Dr. Mark Keroack, President of Baystate Health, Kathy Tobin, Director, Annual Giving & Events for Baystate Health Foundation, Joan Kagan, President and Chief Executive Officer for SquareOne, and Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt.

They braved the rain to show their appreciation for the sacrifices the healthcare, childcare and grocery store workers, bus and truck drivers, postal carriers and so many others, have made and continue to make.

Bright Nights Saluted Military and Emergency Responders

With the entrance lined with American Flags, provided by the Springfield Fire Department, on December 2nd, visitors were greeted by a general, a colonel, a lieutenant, commissioners and more.

Mayor Domenic Sarno, Major General Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General for the Massachusetts National Guard, and Colonel William T. Bladen, Wing Commander for the 104^th Fighter Wing, along with Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, Fire Commissioner B. J. Calvi, Lieutenant John Provost and Trooper Ryan Clapprood from the Massachusetts State Police, and Patrick Pickering, Regional Director, and Patrick Leonardo, Springfield Operation Manager, representing American Medical Response were there to welcome their colleagues.

It was to salute active members of the military, law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel and thank them for the sacrifices they make year round.

Open for Business and Shopping

The Bright Nights Gift Shop is open for business and your shopping pleasure. The online store is open 24-hours a day with quick shipping to be sure your purchases arrive on time. It features an array of Bright Nights merchandise, from shirts to bibs, bracelets to bottles, books, hats, scarves, gloves, ornaments, masks and more.

The Bright Nights Gift Shop at the Springfield Visitor Center features Bright Nights souvenirs as well as crafts from local artesian. They include earrings from Clay & Oak, signs from the Saucy Scorpio, glasses from Love.Leigh Designs, pet collars and leashes from Shelby’s Pawfect Collars & Crafts, bowl coozies from Little Red Hen Cottage and more.

The shop, located at 1319 Main Street, is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturdays before Christmas from 12noon to 4pm. (Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year’s Day.)

Get a Bright Nights Eats and Sweets Coupon book with every in-store purchase. It features coupons for area restaurants and Maureen's Sweet Shoppe.

Bright Nights Special Guests

Santa and Boomer Claus will be making special appearances at the Bright Nights entrance. Santa waves to all that pass by on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings until 8pm.

The Springfield Thunderbirds’ mascot gets into the spirit of the holiday as Boomer Claus. He is there Thursday evenings in December until 6pm. He will be waving and cheering as cars, kids and Thunderbirds fans drive into Forest Park.

Ready, Set, Go for Bright Nights Virtual Run

Runners’ packets have been mailed while others are being picked up at the Springfield Visitor Center at 1319 Main Street.

Be on the lookout for runners wearing a string of light bulbs and a beautifully designed long-sleeve t-shirt. They will not be running through Bright Nights, but through their favorite neighborhood.

This year’s run is sponsored by Health New England with additional support from Freedom Credit Union and Siemens.

In this Issue

• Extended Hours for Bright Nights

• Bright Nights Opens with Dr.'s Approval

• Frontline Workers Welcomed to Bright Nights

•Bright Nights Saluted Military & First Responders

•Open for Business & Shopping

•Bright Nights Special Guests

•Ready, Set, Go for Bright Nights Virtual Run

• Guest Column -

Anthony Cignoli,

A. L. Cignoli Company

• Bright Nights Tickets

Guest Column

Anthony Cignoli

President

A. L. Cignoli Company

Something so needed, by so many, so much more right now, than ever before… Bright Nights at Springfield’s Forest Park.

In a time when so much has had to stop, when so much has been canceled, when so much seems to be gone, taken from us, we still have the tradition of Bright Nights. It is as essential as the First Responders and Military Heroes who have welcomed so many at the entrance of Forest Park.

And to think, it almost did not happen. But Springfield’s Mayor Domenic Sarno, Health Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Executive Director of Parks and Facilities Management, Patrick Sullivan and others whose hearts care so greatly for Springfield, like Judy Matt, Paul Picknelly, Melinda Phelps, John Sjoberg and the Spirit of Springfield Board, they knew, they believed, that this city and all those who visit from afar, needed these lights.

This could not be canceled. This, Covid would not take away from us.

We needed Bright Nights over 25 years ago when a master event planner, a “bus guy”, a television executive and a park superintendent; Judy Matt, Peter Picknelly, Sr., Bill Pepin and Patrick Sullivan, met to think of what they could do to help the city they loved. Paul Picknelly, Peter’s son, a special son of Springfield, led the business community this year to meet Covid-19’s threat, and from here to Boston, made the case to the decision-makers. “It's what my dad would have wanted me to do.”

I had the honor to emcee the event announcing that Bright Nights for 2020 would indeed happen this year. I looked out at the safely, socially distanced crowd, and even with their masks on, their smiles came through. You could see it in their eyes. And even in a few tears of happiness.

At the announcement, Dr. Mark Keroack, CEO and President of Baystate Medical Center, Dr. Robert Roose, Chief Medical Officer of Mercy Medical Center and Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris made the case, they wrote the prescription, that the mental and spiritual health of our community would be healed and comforted by this event. “Could there be a more perfectly socially-distanced event than Bright Nights? This is an Rx for the heart and the soul. We need this now.” And Dr. Keroack perhaps said it best: “This is exactly what the doctor ordered!”

People, families, children, grand-parents, even family pets, are again taking the ride through Bright Nights. Cars are moving through the park perfectly, safely, even on sold-out nights, given the changes made for this unique year.

Forest Park was Dr. Seuss’ canvas. Perhaps we can take a great lesson from his Grinch, that virus-like, nasty thingy; “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa too!), he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas….. perhaps…. means a little bit more!”

Bright Nights, this year it really does mean so much more. It’s a symbol of hope, a symbol of us. Of our resilience…the event said to be improbable and impossible to make happen twenty-six years ago, carries on. As we will. Together. To the Bright Nights ahead.