GREENFIELD — Given initial success in its first year, organizers say they plan to make “Light Up the Fairgrounds” an annual event.
“The fledgling holiday light festival, conceived to raise the spirits of the community during this most difficult year, raised more than $37,000 over nine nights,” said Ericka Almeida, co-organizer and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County development director. “Never did I imagine the event would raise that for three important nonprofits.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter and the Franklin County Fairgrounds are the organizers and beneficiaries of the holiday light event that took place over the past three weekends.
Regional Dog Shelter Director Leslee Colucci said the event was “awesome and a lot of fun.” She said everyone who came through the gates was happy and joyful.
“It was beautiful and I hope it gets bigger — at least as big as allowed,” Colucci said. “We’re already talking about next year.”
She said because this year was the first year, it was a learning curve, but for the most part, the event went off without a hitch.
The three organizations split the proceeds, each receiving one-third.
“That money will help us,” Colucci said. “Our fundraising was disrupted by the pandemic. We’ll be using it for veterinary care and fixes to our kennel.”
Light Up the Fairgrounds was loosely based on Bright Nights in Springfield, but organizers said they would not want to see it become that commercialized in Greenfield. The drive-thru event involved a juried selection of displays, and attendees decided the top three winners.
Almeida said she was searching for a way to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters while also bringing some holiday cheer, when she recalled taking her children to Bright Nights when they were younger. She said she knows that not everyone has the means to get to Springfield, so she thought it would be nice to organize something locally. She contacted the local radio station and asked for help.
“We’re so grateful to Dan Guin and the team at WHAI, Bear Country and the Outlaw for listening to our crazy idea, and through the powers of radio helping to make it a huge success,” Almeida added. “We are also thankful that Mike Nelson and the board of the Franklin County Fairgrounds were willing to host this inaugural event.”
Almeida said she was excited to see the other nonprofits participate, as well as the 35 businesses, groups and individuals who built the light displays throughout the fairgrounds.
“Every single person who passed through the gates of the fairgrounds furthered the event’s success,” she said. “And, of course, we tip our hat to those who created the light displays.”
The displays were in competition for cash prizes provided by Franklin First Federal Credit Union:
■1st place: “Christmas on the Farm” (Ciesluk Farm) received $1,000;
■2nd place: “Happy Holidays” (Travel Kuz) received $500;
■3rd place: “Holiday Greeting” (Franklin County Technical School) received $250.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.