Glow in the Park
Glow in the Park
Little Valley Happenings Presents 1st Annual Glow Stick Party
Ellicottville Brewing Company’s Little Valley location will play host to Oct. 13th’s party, with money raised to help fund other community events throughout the year
There is something so satisfying when you hear the “crack” from bending a glow stick and the color inside reveals itself. You can use them to light up a jack-o-lantern, guide your way down a dark trail, or just draw little pictures in the night air with them. They are amusing for kids and adults alike, and who wouldn’t leap at the chance to spend an evening just chilling and playing with glow sticks for fun? Well, you can do just that on Friday, October 13th. (Ooooh extra spooky!) Come on over to Ellicottville Brewing Little Valley location (202 2nd Street) from 7:00-9:00pm for the Little Valley Happenings’ 1st Annual “Glow in the Park” Party.
What does “Glow in the Park” mean exactly? One of the Friends of Little Valley, Cedric Mananiello was more than happy to shed some light (see what I did there?) on the event. First and foremost, how they came up with the idea for the whole thing.
“Well, the idea for the glow party event actually came from a mix of inspiration and creativity. I've always been fascinated by the vibrant energy of neon lights and the electrifying atmosphere they create. One day, I was brainstorming ideas for a unique and unforgettable event, and it hit me – why not combine the excitement of a party with the mesmerizing glow of neon? It was all about creating an immersive experience where people could let loose, dance, and have a blast while being surrounded by these incredible, luminous colors. I wanted to bring a whole new level of fun and energy to the party scene, and that's how the glow party concept was born. I'm thrilled to see how much joy and excitement it has brought to our community. It is a FREE event for all.”
How did EBC’s Little Valley location become the venue for this endeavor? They graciously offered to host in their outdoor space. The Friends of Little Valley wanted to bring awareness to the restaurant’s location, as well as provide people with food and drink options. Their regular menu will be available that day and possibly drink specials, so guests will be able to snag themselves some pizza queso dip, chicken wings and awesome pizzas like the Beef on Weck or the Bianco. And don’t miss out on their newest dessert pizza creation made with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Yum!
Besides tasty food and beverages, it wouldn’t be a party without music. There isn’t going to be a live band, but DJ Dave Mohr will be onsite spinning tunes from a variety of genres guaranteed to get the crowd dancing with their neon glow sticks in hand.
This sounds like a lot of fun, so what does Cedric think is most important about the whole idea? He says, “Community activities bring people together, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie. They provide opportunities for individuals to meet new friends, and strengthen existing relationships. Participating in community activities can lead to increased civic awareness and involvement. It encourages people to take an active interest in their neighborhoods, and advocate for positive change.”
That’s a lofty goal but the Friends of Little Valley are up to the task. They’ve been working hard all year and they have plans for the rest of the year as well. This summer they introduced their “Music in the Park” series when they had live evening music one day a week from June through August. Now, for the remainder of 2023, they are hoping to do a breakfast event with Santa in December, but that is all still in the works, so no information is currently available. Their goal is to have some sort of community event every few months.
This type of thing has a lot of moving parts so Cedric wanted to end with, “We are always looking for more volunteers on our committee so anyone interested in signing up can get a hold of us. We meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month. And we are all looking forward to seeing everyone who comes out to join us for “Glow in the Park” on October 13th!”
For more information on the Friends of Little Valley and to keep tabs on upcoming events and their details, just visit their website: lvhappenings.com/home and sign up for their newsletter (It’s free.) or just follow their Facebook page.