September News from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

As we transition into the fall, we have lots to look forward to! There are fairs, festivals, and parades like the Big E, Glendi, Springfield’s Puerto Rican Parade, and the 50th Anniversary of the Mattoon Street Arts Festival. There will be cooler temperatures, and a countdown to the holiday season.

We will also mark the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country with the annual Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, September 11th at 10am in front of Springfield’s Monument in Riverfront Park.

-- Judy Matt

President

September 11th Remembrance Ceremony

Springfield has been honoring the first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, since the first September 11th Remembrance Ceremony in 2002. The program was timed to the attacks and when the towers fell. Names of firefighters and police officers who lost their lives were read. In 2019, Springfield’s September 11th Monument was dedicated.

On Monday, September 11th at 10am, Springfield’s September 11th Remembrance Ceremony will be held in the shadow of the monument. There will be greetings by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and remembrances by Major General Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General for the Massachusetts National Guard, Commissioner B. J. Calvi, Springfield Fire Department, Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, Springfield Police Department, and Kimberly D’Angelo, Operations Director for American Medical Response.

In response to the tolling of the fire bell, Emergency response vehicles will roll across the Memorial Bridge. A wreath will be laid on the monument. The program will close with a rifle salute and Taps by the Springfield Police Department.

The program is open to the public with some seating available.

Bright Nights Road Race Registration

Every year, there is a jolly jaunt by and through the magnificent lights in Bright Nights at Forest Park. It is limited to the first 500 who complete the registration. It is for athletes who want to run as fast as the can in the night air. It is for novices who have done the training for a hilly course. It is Springfield’s favorite race.

Registration for the Bright Nights 5K Road Race, which will be held on Monday, November 27th (Rain Date: Tuesday, November 28th) opens on Monday, September 18th at 12am. Some of those eager to participate will stay up all night awaiting for the magical moment to visit brightnights.org. Others will set their alarms, and some will risk it and hope for the best when they wake in the morning.

Registration is $70. It includes the memorable run at 6:30pm, a post-race soup supper, a ticket to enjoy Bright Nights at Forest Park in the comfort of a car, and a beautiful long-sleeve, hooded, athletic shirt.

This year’s run is sponsored by Covestro, Health New England, Siemens, and Freedom Credit Union.

For all the details, visit brightnights.org.

Bright Nights Welcomes Santa

For Bright Nights at Forest Park’s 29th season, Santa will be back full time. From opening night on November 22nd to Christmas Eve, the big man in the red suit will be listing to holiday wish lists, posing for photos, his camera or yours, and spreading holiday cheer.

All the excitement will take place in Santa’s Magical Forest, sponsored by PeoplesBank. It is located just passed Seuss Land. There will be a big sign with Santa directing passerby’s in to see Santa, for snacks, souvenirs, and a ride on the grand carousel.

Santa will be in his cozy cabin provided by The Barn Yard. Photos with Santa start at just $12.

Learn more at brightnights.org.

Supper with Santa

There is a table set for every family and reservation at Bright Nights at Forest Park’s Supper with Santa. There is one extra chair for a special guest, Santa. It is a special evening for true believers young and old at the Barney Carriage House.

It starts with a drive through the magnificent lights that line the route to the Barney Carriage House. It continues inside at the sight of seeing Santa up close and in person. The dinner is delicious, and the tour after dinner through Toy Land and beyond makes for a memorable evening.

The dates are Sunday, December 3rd, Friday, December 8th, and Sunday, December 10th. The first seating is at 5:30pm, and the last is at 7pm.

For more information and to make a reservation, visit brightnights.org.

Bright Nights Ball Bidding

The City of Bright Nights Ball is the Spirit of Springfield’s annual largest fundraiser. It supports the organization’s efforts to bring the community together in celebration with free, family-friendly events that have become a tradition.

Bidding for great silent auction is available to everyone. There are trips, excursions, glamorous purses, jewelry, a mountain bike, tickets, and more is being added every week.

It is a great way to support the Spirit of Springfield and take advantage of some great discounts.

Mattoon Street Arts Festival Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Mattoon Street Arts Festival on September 9th and 10th in the city’s first historic district. The street that is lined with restored Victorian brick row houses will feature 100 vendors of the finest craft vendors, food, and strolling musicians. To commemorate the special anniversary, souvenir tote bags and bookmarks will be available.

Festival-goers might even see Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt sitting on her front porch or hosting friends in her kitchen.

Learn more about the Pioneer Valley’s longest running arts festival at mattoonfestival.org.

Happy 5th Anniversary

MGM Springfield!

In 2018, the Spirit of Springfield was placed in charge of MGM Springfield’s opening procession. On August 24th, The UMass Marching Band, the Budweiser Clydsdales, and a host of employees came marching up State Street and on to Main Street. The employees were welcomed into the hotel by MGM Resorts International and MGM Springfield leadership. All the while, local, regional, and many out-of-town visitors were anxious to get their first glimpse inside Springfield’s first casino.

Fast forward five years later. MGM Springfield is a first-class casino, hotel, and entertainment complex. They continue to support the community and the Spirit of Springfield by sponsoring the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic, City of Bright Nights Ball, Bright Nights at Forest Park, and so much more.

Learn more at mgmspringfield.com.

Starfires Summer Classic

The Westfield Starfires brought baseball to Forest Park in their first annual Summer Classic, sponsored by MGM Springfield, on Sunday, July 30th. The pre-game activities included face painting, special appearances by the Winter Princesses, and free youth clinic by former Red Sox Player Jeff Frye.

Before play got underway, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Patrol delivered the ball to Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe. He pitched it to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno to start the game between the Westfield Starfires and the Pittsfield Colonials. The Starfires rallied from behind to win 11-7.

The Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management did a tremendous job hosting the event. The Spirit of Springfield was pleased to lend their expertise to the festivities.

Plans are already in the works to bring the Summer Classic back to Forest Park in 2024.

Suds for Santa

The Spirit of Springfield is lining up celebrities to serve as bartenders, hosts, and emcees for Suds for Santa at the White Lion Brewery on Wednesday, October 18th from 5:30pm to 8pm.

Springfield Fire Commissioner B. J. Calvi, Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, Springfield Thunderbird’s Nate Costa, Chris Zito from Mix 93.1 FM, and Rock 102’s morning team Bax and Nagle will take the first shift. Others who will be on hand for the brews will be MGM Springfield President Chris Kelley, Will Arment from Charlie Arment Trucking, and Kelly McGiverin from Nexstar Digital.

Proceeds from the event will help underwrite Santa’s residency at Bright Nights at Forest Park during the 2023 season.

Mark your calendar for October 18th and join us for a White Lion brew and a free buffet.

In this Issue

September 11th Remembrance Ceremony

Bright Nights Road Race Registration

Bright Nights

Welcomes Santa

Supper with Santa

Bright Nights Ball Bidding

Mattoon Street Arts Festival Celebrates

50th Anniversary

Happy 5th Anniversary

MGM Springfield

Starfires Summer Classic

Guest Column

Colonel

David L. Halasi-Kun

104th Fighter Wing

Bright Nights Season Pass

Guest Column

Colonel David L.

Halasi-Kun

Wing Commander,

104th Fighter Wing,

Barnes Air National Guard Base

It’s been a busy year for the 104th Fighter Wing. In May, we welcomed thousands of members of our community onto Barnes Air National Guard Base for the 2023 Westfield International Air Show, and then rolled right into deploying to Europe to support Exercise Air Defender 2023; the largest Air Force deployment combined exercise since NATO was founded.

Our time in Europe highlighted how efficiently the 104th Fighter Wing, and the Air National Guard, can project air power worldwide. Additionally, we were informed the 104th Fighter Wing has been selected as a preferred location for the F-35A Lightning II.

The conversion process from our F-15s to the F-35s is scheduled to start in March 2024 to include new infrastructure on Barnes and sending some of our Airmen away for training. We expect the first F-35s to arrive in April 2026. This is great news, as the F-35A guarantees the long-term viability of the 104th Fighter Wing and continuation of our vital air dominance mission for many years.

We could not have achieved this without the incredible support of our local communities, and our military and civilian leadership in the Commonwealth and at the national level.