January News from the Spirit

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest Best and Brightest!

2020 will not soon be a year that will be forgotten. It was the Spirit of Springfield’s 30^th season, and it had fewer events than any other. We had planned to present the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. We desperately wanted to light up the night sky on July 4^th. We had great ideas for the City of Bright Nights Ball. We hoped to see balloons float down Main Street.

We are proud that we were able to host the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic and thrilled that we have been able to present Bright Nights at Forest Park. Our community needed to be able to enjoy the holiday lights. We are grateful for all who made these events happen. It has not always been easy, but we persevered.

Thank you to all of the Spirit of Springfield’s generous sponsors and supporters. Thank you to all the frontline workers! Here’s to 2021, a safer and happier new year!

-- Judy Matt

President

Last Nights for Bright Nights

There are still a few nights left to enjoy Bright Nights at Forest Park. The 26^th season will continue to glow through January 6, 2021, Three Kings Day. Tickets that show with a January 3, 2021, expiration date will be accepted through the end of the season.

Bright Nights at Forest Park has had an extraordinary year. With pre-purchased tickets, operations at the entrance have been streamlined. Tickets are processed faster so the line is able to move at a steady pace into the park.

Tickets are available online at brightnights.org or at Big Y World Class Markets. The tickets are not date specific.

Bright Nights 5K Results Are In

The results from the Bright Nights 5K Road Race are in. They are all winners!

Peter from Ludlow ran his 5k in 21.633 minutes. Declan ran through Forest Park in 21.13. John ran the traditional Bright Nights 5K Road Race route in 33 minutes. Paula and Gail ran in Suffield. Brenda and Kelly ran it at Holyoke Community College. Meagan enjoyed her “run” around the Quabbin Reservoir.

Thank you to all that entered. Congratulations to all that completed. We look forward to seeing you at the 2021 Bright Nights 5K Road Race.

Holiday Lights in the City

The lights in downtown Springfield were glimmering with support from the Springfield Business Improvement District. Main Street was lined with snowflakes. The City of Springfield got the waterfall of lights twinkling in Court Square’s fountain. The Memorial Bridge was brought to light with some help from Mayor Will Reichelt from the Town of West Springfield.

Many building owners also put up displays to highlight their entrances and rooftops, and to continue the tradition of making Springfield the City of Bright Nights.

Look Back at 2020

Plans for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast were well underway when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the country to shut down. We had volunteers ready to serve, all the product to be served, and the support of MGM Springfield. It was just another disappointment of 2020.

The first event the Spirit of Springfield was able to present was Springfield’s September 11^th Remembrance Ceremony. The organization teamed up with the Springfield Police and Fire Departments. Attendance was limited to the program participants.

The Spirit of Springfield was able to host the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic. It was postponed twice. When it was held on September 25^th at Franconia Golf Course, it was a glorious day. The weather was perfect and the golfers were thrilled to be out on the course.

In October, the Rotary Club of Springfield generously donated masks to the Spirit of Springfield. These lowered the expense for personal protection equipment for the staff at Bright Nights at Forest Park. The Spirit of Springfield even started its own line of Bright Nights cloth masks for adults and children.

Bright Nights debuted its second children’s book, “The Perfect Place,” with a matching stuffed Diego the Dinosaur. The story of Diego finding Bright Nights at Forest Park was written by Michele Dufresne, illustrated by Cierra Thompson and Jon Stiles, and printed by Tiger Press. It is available online and it was sold at the Springfield Visitors Center where the Springfield Business Improvement District hosted the Bright Nights Gift Shop.

The Spirit of Springfield’s proudest accomplishment of 2020 was opening Bright Nights at Forest Park and hosting a special night for the frontline workers.

A Message from Santa

By Santa Claus, a.k.a. Keith O'Connor

Stepping into the fur-trimmed boots of Santa Claus for four weekends at Bright Nights at Forest Park was indeed an honor.

When you put on that magical red suit you truly become one of the most beloved legends of our time.

As the jolly ol’ elf, I have mingled with good little boys and girls at Suppers with Santa at past Bright Nights. Santa’s new home this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, was outdoors on a little green where I would wave and dance welcoming everyone to our enchanted forest.

Never before have I played to such a large audience, who responded with kindness. Kids were yelling from their cars: “I love you, Santa!” and were so excited to see me. Adults were tooting their car horns as they passed by and some were concerned asking me if I was warm enough in my suit.

After, as I returned home each night from playing Santa, I asked myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be kind to one another all year long?”

In this Issue

• Last Nights for Bright Nights

• Bright Nights 5K Results Are In

• Holiday Lights in the City

•Look Back at 2020

•A Message from Santa

• Guest Column -

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno

• Bright Nights Tickets

Guest Column

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno

City of Springfield

As we close the book to 2020, we reflect on the challenges and surreal events we have all endured.

The year started as any other, with the hope of building off the successes we collectively made during 2019, and looking forward to all the gatherings and events the City of Springfield and the Spirit of Springfield would have. Instead, the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic hit.

The pandemic adversely affected and impacted many individuals, families and businesses. Numerous events throughout our City, the Commonwealth and our nation were canceled or postponed – including many of the great events our beloved Spirit of Springfield holds. Businesses, schools and even City Hall were forced to temporarily close. Eventually, working with our health and medical experts we were able to begin the reopening phase and return to a small semblance of normalcy. I was elated that we were able to get Bright Nights open too – more than ever this shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I want to take a moment to thank and give my deepest appreciation to all of our dedicated frontline workers including but not limited to: healthcare workers; protective service workers (police, fire, EMTs, etc.); workers of grocery and general merchandise stores; production and food processing workers; janitors, maintenance and sanitation workers; bus and truck drivers; utility workers; and mail carriers. A special shout out to all of our teachers, social workers, the media and everyone who continued to do the best they could during these surreal and challenging times.

Together we will get through and defeat this pandemic. Good riddance to 2020 and here is to a much better 2021.

Wishing everyone Happy New Year and continued success. God Bless.