Spirit of Springfield prepares for summer funDate: 3/14/2022 SPRINGFIELD – An endless array of pancakes and the celebratory theatrics of the Fourth of July fireworks mark a few of the festive staples the Spirit of Springfield will feature during the summer season.
Looking back at 2021
Throughout the trials and tribulations of the pandemic, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt shared that the nonprofit organization continued to display resiliency. While some events, like the Parade of Big Balloons, could not occur due to the pandemic’s restrictions, the organization still operated several of their well-known events in a truncated fashion.
For example, the Spirit of Springfield’s annual World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast took place in August 2021 instead of its usual May date. Matt shared that due to concerns around the pandemic, the event did not feature the same crowds and entertainment options.
“Last year when we did the pancake breakfast, we did it in August to get it done. … [The pancake breakfast] was not anywhere near as successful as it’s been in the past,” said Matt. The Spirit of Springfield president said the organization could not distribute the 75,000 tickets they typically hand out to students, which serves as the core grass roots marketing campaign for the breakfast.
The luxurious fundraising event, the Bright Nights Ball, and the luminous lights of Bright Nights continued in their normal capacity. After 2020 drew Bright Nights’ second biggest turnout since opening in 1995, Matt said the holiday event doubled some of the organization’s prior yearly returns in 2021 as the Bright Nights gift shop, food and carousel area made a welcomed return. The Spirit of Springfield’s Bright Nights 5K Road Race also featured a sold-out crowd.
“The winter events went very well…Bright Nights was excellent this year. We still had a great turnout, people wanted to get out and do things. We’re very pleased with how the season went,” said Matt.
Summer 2022 events
With conditions surrounding the pandemic improving, Matt expressed that each summer event will be returning to their normal operations. Spirit of Springfield will kick-off the summer season with the return of the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast on May 14. Tickets are set to be distributed in the coming weeks as the Spirit of Springfield continues to gather volunteers and equipment.
“We’re looking forward to it and I think the public is looking forward to it. All of the production donations and volunteers are starting to come in,” said Matt.
Matt also expects the local student entertainment options to return. “We’re hopefully getting the normal dance studios and all the people we’ve had in the past,” said Matt.
The Spirit of Springfield also hosts one of their two key fundraisers on June 3 with the Golf Classic at Franconia Golf Course. After years of outsourcing the event to different courses, Matt shared that the Franconia Golf Course became a reliable home for the fundraiser after Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Director Patrick Sullivan encouraged Spirit of Springfield to utilize the course.
“The people that golf love it, they think it’s a wonderful course,” said Matt. The president of Spirit of Springfield shared that the organization implements a golf committee to work on the event, while her organization is currently sending out invitations. Along with fundraising, the Golf Classic awards the Joe Superneau Award to the team with the lowest score, as well as a Mayor’s Cup for a competition between the local mayors.
On July 4, the Spirit of Springfield is also presenting their traditional Star Spangled Springfield fireworks display. Matt, who shared the event remains one of her favorite Spirit of Springfield events, expressed that this year’s celebration will reach new heights for the organization.
“We’ll probably have the biggest turnout we’ve ever had…I think we’re going to have a huge crowd,” said Matt. The Spirit of Springfield already submitted a grant proposal to the MassMutual Center for the event, with the organization now preparing their final proposal.
With the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast and Star Spangled Springfield returning to normalcy, Matt expressed that both events continue to encompass the Spirit of Springfield’s communal and accessible spirit.
“Our goal is to bring people together in celebration. … With everything going on in the world, people get concerned. The fact that we can do these things for little, or no cost really helps people out,” said Matt.
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