January News from The Spirit

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest

Thank you to everyone who made 2019 such a successful year for the Spirit of Springfield. We thank our sponsors and donors, volunteers and collaborators, the Western Massachusetts Legislative Delegation, and so many others.

Now, the Spirit of Springfield is about to embark on its 30^th season. We will flip pancakes on Main Street, tee-off for a round of golf, light the night sky on Independence Day, and so much more. It is hard to believe that we have been at it for that many years. Kids that sang at the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast in 1990, now bring their kids.

Here's to 2020 and the Spirit of Springfield's 30^th season of events.

- Judy Matt

President

Looking Back on 2019

Last year was going to be like any another, but it turned out to be so much more. The Spirit of Springfield held its traditional events like the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast and Golf Classic. Star Spangled Springfield returned to the newly renovated Riverfront Park. The City of Bright Nights Ball kicked-off Bright Nights at Forest Park's 25^th season. At Bright Nights, we added the MGM Springfield display and welcomed the 25^th, 250^th, 2,500^th and 25,000^th cars with fanfare and a bag of swag.

The Spirit of Springfield's proudest moment was the dedication of Springfield's September 11^th Monument. Eighteen years since the terrorist attack and 11 years since receiving the artifact from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the monument to the first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, was unveiled and honored by visiting dignitaries and first responders.

See more photos.

2020 Inaugural Festivities

On Monday, January 6^th, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno took the Oath of Office for the fifth time in Springfield Symphony Hall making him Springfield's longest serving mayor. He then welcomed families to Bright Nights at Forest Park for the holiday lights, free rides and refreshments.

A Mass of Celebration was held on Sunday, January 5^th at Mount Carmel Church with Father Robert White.

A gala reception will be held at the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School on Saturday, January 11^th from 6pm to 9pm. The reception will feature MBT Music Experience, refreshments and a cash bar.

See more photos.

Red Sox Winter Weekend

The Boston Red Sox are coming to Springfield for their annual Winter Weekend on January 17^th to January 19^th. The Red Sox are expecting 8,000 to 10,000 fans traveling to the city for activities at the MassMutual Center, MGM Springfield and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Local hotels are sold out and restaurants are pleased to have the added business.

To keep guests warm and dry while they visit the various venues, the Spirit of Springfield is overseeing the installation of a tent on Main Street. For months, we have been coordinating the effort with City Officials, MGM Springfield and Michael's Party Rentals.

Big Y Bus Tour to Bright Nights

It was all aboard for Bright Nights for employees from two Big Y World Class Market stores. They traveled from Norwell (MA) and Groton (CT). They enjoyed snacks on the buses and the more than 675,000 lights. They went home singing Christmas carols and spreading the word about Bright Nights to their Big Y customers.

New Board Member

The Spirit of Springfield is starting off the new year with a new Board Member. Aamna Knight is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Tower Square Hotel. Prior to that she was the Catering Sales Manager at the MassMutual Center.

She will be sharing her marketing, sales and hospitality experience with the Spirit of Springfield.

BREAKING NEWS

Bright Nights 2020 Season Passes are now available! For a limited time only, the passes will be available for just $35 at brightnights.org.

In This Issue

Looking Back on 2019

2020 Inaugural Festivities

Red Sox Winter Weekend

Big Y Bus Tour to Bright Nights

New Board Member

Breaking News

Guest Column - Attorney Melinda Phelps

Bright Nights Online Store

GUEST COLUMN

Attorney Melinda Phelps

Chair, Spirit of Springfield

2019 YEAR IN REVIEW

Wow, what a year it was. In addition to the Spirit of Springfield's annual events, the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast, Star Spangled Springfield Fourth of July, Golf Classic, and military concerts, Spirit of Springfield celebrated 25 years of Bright Nights at Forest Park with a gala at the MGM ballroom, and a commemorative 25th anniversary book.

In addition to that full calendar of events, the Spirit of Springfield dedicated Springfield's September 11^th Monument with a hero's welcome. The greater Springfield community rallied and raised the funds to place the World Trade Towers beam at Riverfront Park, honoring the first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Andrew Card, former Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush, spoke movingly about his experiences on that day and the dark days that followed. The motorcycle escort of emergency response vehicles over the Memorial Bridge to Riverfront Park was a fitting and emotional tribute to all brave men and women who respond to emergencies. Springfield's September 11^th Monument is one of the Spirit of Springfield's highest achievements, and I encourage all to take the time to visit the monument in Riverfront Park.

As Chair of the Board of Directors, I am proud of all Spirit of Springfield's accomplishments, produced by its staff of four dedicated and extremely capable women.

On behalf of the Board, we look forward to 2020 and continuing to celebrate the city's biggest, best and brightest!

BRIGHT NIGHTS

ONLINE STORE

STILL ACCEPTING ORDERS

25th Anniversary Book, Shirts, Hats, Ornaments and more!

brightnights.org/

on line-store

Dates for 2020

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, May 9th

8am to 11am

Main Street