March News from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Bright Nights Appreciation Breakfast, and thank you to our hosts, Paul Picknelly and the Sheraton Springfield. It is an event we started several years ago to recognize the team at the Springfield Park Department, say thank you to sponsors and supporters, and give special recognition to those who have gone above and beyond. Just like Bright Nights it is tradition that brings our hardworking team together.

This month we are keeping busy by planning for upcoming events, and hosting a free concert by the U. S. Air Force Band from Washington, DC in Springfield Symphony Hall on Sunday, March 26th.

We hope to see you at the concert and all year long!

-- Judy Matt

President

U. S. Air Force Band Free Concert 🎶

On Sunday, March 26th the U. S. Air Force Band will treat Springfield to a free concert in Springfield Symphony Hall thanks to MGM Springfield. At 3pm, they will strike the first chord on a musical performance that will include Star Spangled Banner, E. T.: Adventures on Earth by John Williams, Cheek to Cheek by Irving Berlin, American Anthem, and more.

Of the six performing ensembles within The United States Air Force Band, the concert band is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-

Bolling in Washington, D.C., The United States Air Force Band honors those who have served, inspires American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and connects with the global

community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America.

Tickets will be available at all Pride Convenience Stores, the Springfield Visitors Center, and One Financial Plaza Security Desk this week, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Spirit of Springfield, 1350 Main Street, Suite 1004, Springfield, MA 01103.

It is going to be another great concert, and it is free!

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast Exhibitors Welcome

The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast is a great place to meet old friends and make new ones, and a great opportunity to greet customers and get new ones.

The Spirit of Springfield has space available for businesses, community service organizations, as well as political campaigns, so they can share their message and materials with the thousands of people who will experience the annual pancake party on Saturday, May 13th from 8am to 11am on Main Street in Downtown Springfield.

To learn more and reserve a spot, visit spiritofspringfield.org.

Bright Nights Group Tour Discount

For a fourth year, the Spirit of Springfield is offering discounted admission to Bright Nights at Forest Park for buses and mini buses for a limited time. The prices have been lowered from $175 to $150 for buses with seating capacity of 31 or more passengers, and mini buses, seating capacity of 17 to 30 passengers, from $80 to $70, with paid reservations by August 31, 2023.

“Springfield is a holiday destination for families visiting Bright Nights at Forest Park,” said Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt. “We want it to be just as popular with group tour leaders and bus operators. Our city has so much to offer including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield Armory, and MGM Springfield as well as great dining options.”

In addition to Springfield attractions, bus tour operators have been bringing their passengers to Yankee Candle Village and the Holyoke Mall to shop, and to the Log Cabin, Deerfield Inn, and Salem Cross Inn to dine.

Bright Nights at Forest Park has been recognized by the American Bus Association as one of the “Best of the Best” in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Prior to that, it was listed as one of the organization’s Top 100 Destinations in North America.

Reservations for buses can be made at brightnights.org.

Bright Nights Appreciation Breakfast

The ballroom at the Sheraton Springfield was filled with sponsors, supporters, and members of the team that made Bright Nights at Forest Park's 28th season a grand success.

Tom Ashe, Chief of Staff for Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Paul Marcelina, Executive Vice President for Monarch Enterprises, gave welcoming remarks. Dr. Robert Roose, Chief Administrative Officer for Mercy Medical Center, spoke on behalf of the many sponsors.

Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt and Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management made special presentations to Roy Frink, who is retiring after 20 years working at the front gate, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield Park Department, and the team from the Springfield Park Department who spend six months each year maintaining, installing, removing, and managing the event.

Special thanks to Kathy Tobin, Spirit of Springfield Vice Chair and Director of Annual Giving for the Baystate Health Foundation, for serving as the morning's emcee.

See more photos!

Little Frog for Ukraine

In March of 2022, as the war in Ukraine got started, the Spirit of Springfield began selling a Bright Nights at Forest Park children’s book to benefit the book’s illustrator, Max Stasiuk, who lives in the Ukraine. At the City of Bright Nights Ball, a piece of art created by Max was auctioned.

To-date, the Spirit of Springfield has sent Max over $14,000 to support his family and extended family.

The book, “The Little Frog and the Bright Lights,” is based upon the Leaping Frog display at Bright Nights at Forest Park. It tells the story of how the Little Frog came to love winter by visiting Bright Nights. The books are still available with all proceeds being sent to Max. They are $10 each with $1 for shipping.

To order the book and to help support Max and his family, visit spiritofspringfield.org.

The Stasiuk Family

City Awards ARPA Funds

Springfield is known as the City of Bright Nights in recognition of Bright Nights at Forest Park as well as the many publicly and privately owned spaces that have been lit with holiday light displays similar to the magnificent lights in Forest Park. These include Main Street, Court Square, the Memorial Bridge, as well as Monarch Place, TD Bank, The Colvest Group, and Berkshire Bank.

The Spirit of Springfield received a $50,000 grant to begin to replace the aging displays on downtown Springfield lamp poles. The organization will begin with the halos on the Memorial Bridge, the beautiful gateway to Springfield and West Springfield.

In this Issue

U. S. Air Force Band

Free Concert

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast Exhibitors Welcome

Bright Nights

Group Tour Discount

Bright Nights Appreciation Breakfast

Little Frog for Ukraine

City Awards ARPA Funds

Guest Column

Sean Dolan

MassMutual Center

Bright Nights

Season Pass

Guest Column

Sean Dolan

General Manager,

MassMutual Center

It’s an exciting time at the MassMutual Center and we can’t thank the Spirit of Springfield enough for the opportunity to showcase the building – and for their continued partnership!

We welcomed Paw Patrol for the first time, the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic saw the return of UMass Men’s Basketball, and Red Sox Winter Weekend returned for the second time. We saw record-breaking sales for our recent Harlem Globetrotters show, and our upcoming Disney on Ice (March 23-26) events are tracking for another record-breaking year!

Our ever-resilient sales team continues to fill the Convention Center with events that will have a positive impact on our local economy. In 2022, 50% of the business booked was new business – and some of the recent success includes Employers Association of New England, National Energy & Fuels Institute, New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Association of Rural & Small Libraries.

In addition to the new Civic Center Garage, we are installing a new digital billboard at Main and Bruce Landon Way. Recently, we opened a temporary second entrance on State Street to ease ingress to select Arena events for patrons who already have a ticket in-hand.

Looking forward, we have announced three major events: Kevin Hart on April 20, Santana on August 6, and Bill Burr on August 12.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2023

U. S. Air Force Band

Sunday, March 26th

3pm

Springfield Symphony Hall