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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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nce upon a time there was a popular destination in Springfield, Massachusetts, called Forest Park located in the Southeast corner of the city. In the 1880s, it was determined to formalize this land into a public park. It became Springfield’s crown jewel of parks consisting of 735 acres of beautiful woodland donated by over 30 landowners, including Orick H. Greenleaf and wealthy philanthropist Everett Hosmer Barney. Forest Park is further distinguished by the fact that it was designed by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Since 1884, millions of fun seekers have traveled through Forest Park’s gates to enjoy a myriad of leisure time activities. It wasn’t until 1995, however, that a park, that was dark at night would be magically filled with lights and memories. Attendance at this city oasis took a staggering jump to over 300,000 visitors in just a little over one month to see Bright Nights at Forest Park. People came from not only Springfield, but from all the surrounding towns, the entire state, and from throughout New England and beyond to view what 25 years later is considered among the country’s premier holiday lighting displays that People.com has called “One of the Top Ten Holiday Happenings in America.” Bright Nights at Forest Park began with the vision of two people who are both champions of a city they have grown to love over their lifetime. It started back in February 1995 with a brochure about holiday lighting displays that came across the desk and piqued the interest of Patrick J. Sullivan, then superintendent of the Springfield Park Department. He knew that taking on such an ambitious project to turn Forest Park into a winter wonderland of festive lights would require additional help, a lot of help. So, he turned to his friend Judith A. Matt, president of the Spirit of Springfield, where “thinking big” is their
BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
forte. The private, non-profit corporation, whose mission is “to promote community events and encourage civic pride,” already had a number of successful events to its name – the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, Star Spangled Springfield, and Parade of the Big Balloons, to mention just a few. Sullivan shared the brochure with the Spirit of Springfield president and explained what he had learned, that some towns in the South looked to holiday lighting displays as a way to encourage greater use of their parks during a typically slower time of the year. Never one to shy away from a good challenge, and this would be Matt’s biggest by far, she agreed that the idea was worth further investigation. There was more, however, driving their desire to bring a festival of lights to Springfield. Sullivan remembered visiting Forest Park as a child during the holidays to look at the wooden, cutout displays on the ballfield lit by floodlights. It was always followed by a trip to Friendly’s for hot chocolate. While Matt, who grew up in Connecticut, had memories of visiting Hartford’s Constitution Plaza each year with her parents to view their holiday lights. Sullivan saw the opportunity to create similar memories by establishing a new holiday tradition for families in the city he so loved. Since Matt was in the business of creating memories, it was a perfect fit for both of them. It was Sullivan who made the first call to the number on the brochure, ultimately reaching a representative for Carpenter Decorating who sold their products. Within a few days, he made his way to Springfield to survey Forest Park and offer the pair his suggestions. The only problem was that he didn’t think quite as big as they did. He only wanted to use a small portion of Forest Park, filling the playing fields with stock Santas throwing snowballs and playing baseball. But, that wasn’t good enough. They wanted something more. Not willing to give up on
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Bright Nights thank you letters sent to Spirit of Springfield and first program booklet for Bright Nights.
their dream so quickly, it was Matt who made the next call. She took their idea to create a holiday lighting display unique in the country, one that would reflect the true “spirit” of the Springfield area, directly to the manufacturer, Carpenter Decorating in Hickory, North Carolina. It was Dennis Bell, Carpenter Decorating’s director of sales, who answered the phone. “Judy was certainly very enthusiastic as she spoke with me on the phone, but most people are when they make that first call to learn more about the possibility of putting together a holiday light show,” said Bell.
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However, this wasn’t just your average everyday call. After learning about their idea to create “not just any ordinary lighting display,” Bell put John Catenaci, the company’s design director, on the phone. Upon learning about their passion to create an attraction that would blend city history, holiday traditions, and Forest Park’s natural beauty, Catenaci wasted no time in packing his bags for Springfield. “We both thought this was well worth our time to pursue. And the creative opportunity that this venture would potentially offer for John was right up his alley,” said Bell. Catenaci was also no stranger to the city of Springfield and its beloved Forest Park. “We lived at the Jersey Shore and I would often visit my grandparents at their home in Granville. They would bring me to Springfield, where we
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would shop at Tower Square and also visit Forest Park. My one favorite thing to do when visiting at Thanksgiving was to go to Constitution Plaza in Hartford, Connecticut, to view their holiday light display. And, that is honestly
ny, as well as provide him with one of the greatest artistic challenges of his career. “I hadn’t been back to Forest Park since I was a kid. Now, driving through its winding ways as an adult, I saw it all before me, like the scenes of
would go. There would be the Cat in the Hat, in honor of Springfield native Dr. Seuss, ice skaters as a tip of the hat to Everett Barney, who not only donated land for Forest Park, but also invented the modern-day ice skate. There
To preserve the pristine nature of the historic park, the electrical wiring and conduit would need to be buried underground, requiring nearly three miles worth of trenches to be dug on each side of the roadway. how I became fascinated with Christmas lights as a little kid,” said Catenaci. On his first drive through Forest Park, it didn’t take the designer long to realize that the money Carpenter Decorating had invested in his round-trip plane ticket would pay dividends for the compa-
a play unfolding. I knew right away that this would be an opportunity not to just place a display here and there, but to create entire scenes,” said Catenaci. During his journey through the park, Catenaci began to paint a picture in his mind where some of the displays
would also be game board pieces as a tribute to nearby Milton Bradley Company in East Longmeadow, now known as Hasbro. And that was only the beginning. Excited by the possibilities that lay before him, Catenaci headed back to Hickory, where he began to hand draw
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extremely detailed colorful sketches, each a piece of art on its own, and then send his concepts back to Springfield for approval. The first of those original designs to arrive in Springfield portrayed his vision for Seuss Land, a forebearer of what was yet to come. Matt took those dramatic renderings to the Spirit of Springfield’s Board of Directors, who didn’t share her enthusiasm about turning Forest Park into a world of dazzling lights, the likes of which had never been seen before in the City of Homes. Given their fiduciary responsibility to the non-profit organization, they were not entirely convinced with such a massive and expensive undertaking. One board member, however, felt otherwise. Despite the enormous cost and massive fundraising effort that would need
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to be mounted, he stood up before his fellow board members to proclaim, “If you don’t want to take the risk, I will.” It was the late visionary, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Peter L. Picknelly, president of Peter Pan Bus Lines, who later went on to personally sign the note to help finance Bright Nights at Forest Park. Picknelly, who died in October 2004, was one of the city’s most successful businessmen and a devoted citizen who used his wealth to make a better Springfield for everyone. Once Picknelly had offered his stamp of approval and financial support, Matt turned to another good friend and visionary to help further seal the deal. That person was Paul Bacon, the now retired vice president of Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors, Inc., a subsidiary of MassMutual, owners at the time of Tower Square. Matt brought him a proposal to place lights on the outside of the retail and office tower complex in downtown Springfield as a tie-in to Bright Nights. Her intent was to use his deposit as part of the initial down payment for the displays, which he allowed her to do. Another problem solved. The project was receiving great interest and the necessary approvals were made by then Springfield Mayor Robert T. Markel and Springfield Park Commission Chairman Jack Dill, with encouragement from former Park Chairman William Putnam. Bright Nights was further enthusiastically supported by Audrey Geisel, wife of the late Dr. Seuss, who needed to give permission for any displays based on her husband’s illustrations. With those important deals and support now in hand, William Pepin, who at the time was board president of the Spirit of Springfield and vice president and general manager of WWLP-22News, joined Matt on the road in search of sponsors. On the first day alone, they sold two sponsorships, with Milton Bradley Company the first to sign on and demonstrate their faith in the project and those behind it. Not all of those sponsorships were in the form of a check, some were in-kind, such as one from
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Robert G. Abair, president of Western Massachusetts Electric, who would help to deliver the much-needed electricity for Bright Nights to shine in the park. It was now August, and with one of their largest and most expensive orders ever for holiday lighting displays, Carpenter Decorating had their own challenge. They would need to ramp up production and complete the enormous task of delivering the displays in time for the opening of Bright Nights just three months away. Carpenter Decorating workers began their magic by scanning each of Catenaci’s design boards into a computer. Printouts came out in rolls that were 36 inches wide and 50 feet long. The rolls were then taped together to make a template, rolled back up and sent to the welding department, where workers banded, cut and welded steel bars together. Each steel frame was dipped into a solution to prevent rust, then spray painted. The frames were then wired with light sockets in the appropriate places. Workers screwed in lightbulbs according to a color scheme and the frames were then loaded in pieces into 5-foot by 6-foot boxes for shipping. While all of this was going on back in North Carolina, things were also getting busy in Springfield. The big unanswered question was where would all of the electricity needed to power Bright Nights, emphasis on “really bright,” come from? At the time, it was estimated that 467,370 watts would be needed, enough to brighten 900 homes. J. Michael Wallace of C&W Realty, who was a Spirit of Springfield board member, was instrumental in helping to solve that hurdle. He sought the assistance of David R. Northrup, president of David R. Northrup Electrical Contractors, Inc. in Agawam, Massachusetts, who came to the table with what would be needed to power the “megawatt” sensation about to be born. Northrup’s faith in the Spirit of Springfield and the potential of Bright Nights to create another
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Congratulations to Bright Nights for 25 Years of a holiday tradition!
Proud to be the OFFICIAL SPONSOR of the American Flag Display at Bright Nights Since 2001
www.bigy.com
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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“first” in what is also referred to as the “City of Firsts,” led him to agree to undertake the project with no money in hand at the time, just a simple handshake. To preserve the pristine nature of the historic park, the electrical wiring and conduit would need to be buried underground, requiring nearly three miles worth of trenches to be dug on each side of the roadway. It was Matt’s late husband, John Stumpf, who had previously managed major construction projects around the world, who came forward to serve as project manager. The estimated cost for just the trenching was placed at $125,000. Knowing the tight budget to get Bright Nights off the ground, Stumpf went to a local union hall, rounded up a group of trench operators, then rented trenching equipment to complete a job that now would cost only $25,000. After the trenches were dug, Northrup began the tedious process of installing the wiring and conduit with the assistance of volunteers from Westover Job Corps, support from the Hampden County Sheriff ’s Department, and a contingent from the Massachusetts National Guard. While plenty was going on outdoors at Forest Park to prepare for Bright Nights, they were also busy indoors at the Spirit of Springfield. There were an abundance of decisions to be made. How much would a ticket cost? It was decided to charge $6 at the gate. How to get the word out to the public? A marketing plan had to be quickly put together with few advertising dollars to work with. What about the increased traffic? The Springfield Police Department had to be consulted. How many people would be needed to help work the front gate? What hours would Bright Nights be open? All those questions and many other matters were being worked on behind the scenes. There was a team of accountants, bankers, law enforcement officers, and many others who offered their expertise to ensure a successful event.
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With preparations now underway for Bright Nights to become a reality, the Spirit of Springfield and the Springfield Park Department hosted a press conference to unveil their plans to illuminate the city’s largest green space. It was hoped that the press conference would generate word of mouth about Bright Nights. The media event was held in the Trolley Pavilion at Forest Park on September 7, 1995. Designers Jean Jenks and Florence DeRose, retired owners of Design & Advertising Associates, were on hand to unveil the Bright Nights inaugural logo. To “brighten up” the event, those who received an invitation to the pre-holiday announcement were sent a colored lightbulb in the mail and asked to bring it along with them. The idea was for them to help light a 14-foottall, 8-foot-wide animated snowman, an example of the type of display pieces which would be featured throughout the park. The snowman arrived just hours before the announcement and the park crew scrambled to figure out how to assemble the first display with no instructions. It wasn’t long before other boxes began arriving one by one, leaving precious little time to get acquainted with the setup process for each of the displays. Fortunately, Catenaci flew in from North Carolina and spent a couple of weeks along with Stumpf offering his guidance and support during what proved to be a rather short and intense setup period. Sullivan, who had already put together a special Bright Nights crew to install the displays, also “called in the troops” to help. He asked Springfield Park Department employees to lend a helping hand in setting them up. It was long, hard, exhausting work in the cold, but thanks to everyone’s dedication and willingness to work both day and night, as well as on the weekends, the job got done with no time to waste for the opening of Bright Nights, which went off on schedule on November 24, 1995. As the day arrived, all eyes were on the gates on Sumner
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As we now celebrate the milestone of 25 years of Bright Nights, my many thanks go out to our Spirit of Springfield team – from Judy and Amy to the Board of Directors – and of course our very generous business community and hundreds of dedicated volunteers, you/our events make us a first class city. From a twinkle of thought to the twinkle of hundreds of thousands of lights – Bright Nights has become a holiday/family time tradition for millions, who come from near and far. Your continued belief and investment in our Springfield is so deeply appreciated! Though you can put a price tag on the economic development spin-off – you can’t put a price tag on the morale boost this gives to our Springfield and Western Mass and beyond. This is a very exciting time in our city’s history. Now is our time to shine just like our Bright Nights as the capital of Western Massachusetts. Together as one, we will all continue to make our Springfield strong and proud.
Thank you – Happy 25th Anniversary and continued success! God Bless. Respectfully, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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Avenue. Initially, as the time neared to open, Matt and Sullivan were disappointed to not see a single car waiting in line to drive through Bright Nights. It was Herb Cheyette, on behalf of Audrey Geisel and International Creative Management, Inc. (ICM) representing Dr. Seuss Enterprises, who had the honor of turning on the lights. “I only learned after turning on the lights that my other accomplishment was to inaugurate the largest traffic jam in the history of Springfield,” Cheyette later said about that special day. The headline the next day in the Union News proclaimed: “Holiday Light Show Sparkles for Debut.” And the statistics tell the rest of the story. While Bright Nights was originally set to end its first season on January 7, 1996, it remained open until January 14, 1996. Its extended run was due to “popular demand,” along with the fact that six nights of snowfall, the most ever endured to this day during Bright Nights, closed the park to drivers. When the gates finally closed for its first season, some 74,859 vehicles had passed through the Forest Park gates, with waits as short as 20 minutes some nights, and other evenings taking as long as two hours to reach the gates. It wasn’t just Springfield’s popular daily newspaper that got behind Bright Nights. There were positive reviews from the region’s many weekly newspapers, as well as radio and television. Also, the accolades came in all forms that
also been added. There are concluded that Springfield’s first year, and still do today, special evenings when the situation was not unlike one from handwritten notes and Bright Nights 5K Road Race in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, personal phone calls to Matt and Supper with Santa are where the Supreme Court and Sullivan to shout outs to held. On Military and Emerfound that the city did not them on city streets. It was even a proud moment violate the First Amendment gency Responders Night, admission is free for active when building a display that for Catenaci. “I was literally included a manger scene and members of the armed forces, ‘wowed’ on my first drive law enforcement, firefighters a Santa Claus, reindeer, and through Forest Park with the and emergency responders. cartoon characters. It was displays lit in all their glory. Also, many of the displays’ the court’s decision that the When you have a good idea secular symbols negated a re- incandescent bulbs have been and then put it in a drawing, ligious message, so the display replaced with brighter, lonyou can only imagine what could be seen as a celebration ger-lasting, energy-efficient that display will really look like. It’s always a little shock- of the public holiday through LED bulbs. Today, as drivers make their traditional symbols. Within ing to see it in reality, and way through Bright Nights at when these displays are lit up days, the creche came out of Forest Park, they are greeted they look bigger than you ex- storage to further brighten at the front gate by giant red pected. Again, it’s that ‘wow’ Spirit of the Season. flowers in Poinmoment of seeing settia Fantasy, what you once then continue imagined in your head,” he said. As of its 25th anniversary year, their tour viewing displays titled While the gates more than six million visitors American Flag, were now open, Spirit of the Seathere was another have toured Bright Nights at son, Winter Gardisplay that den, Springfield hadn’t been put Forest Park in some Thunderbirds, up yet, a nativity 670,000 cars and buses. Never Never scene. Its absence Land, Seuss was the cause of Land, Letters to concern for some. Santa, Garden of It generated nuWith its inaugural year such Peace, Jurassic World, Victomerous telephone calls to the Spirit of Springfield and park an overwhelming success, the rian Village, Barney Mansion, Leaping Frog, Winter Woods, challenge would now be to officials, and it had clergy keep the momentum going by North Pole Village, Toy Land, preaching from the pulpit, attracting new and returning Giant Poinsettia Candles, and too. Happy Holidays, Springfield. visitors each season. Over It was always the intention For the 25th Anniversary the years, new displays were to include a manger scene season of Bright Nights, a new added and Santa’s Magical in the Spirit of the Season MGM Springfield display has Forest was born, which feadisplay alongside the Peace tures a gift shop, concessions, been added. on Earth Globe and MenoAs of its 25th anniversary and amusement rides. Santa rah. The piece was simply in even has his own cozy cottage, year, more than six million storage until a decision was rendered on whether or not it where all good little boys and visitors have toured Bright Nights at Forest Park in some girls can meet with the jolly would be legal to erect a nativity scene in the public park ol’ elf in the red suit and have 670,000 cars and buses. Its given the separation of church their photographs taken with economic impact over the and state. Eventually, City So- him. Horse-drawn wagon and years is indisputable, nearly $300 million has been romantic carriage rides have licitor Maurice M. Cahillane
brought into the region, including Bright Nights paying the City of Springfield millions of dollars for park personnel, police, public works and the use of Forest Park. At a time of the year that is traditionally slow for the visitor industry, Bright Nights as a tourist attraction generates income and tax revenue, as well as supporting jobs for many businesses in the city and throughout the Pioneer Valley. It also brings in dollars from those who shop, eat and stay in hotels in Springfield and the surrounding towns. The revenues generated from Bright Nights are used to support other Spirit of Springfield initiatives and events throughout the year. “Holiday light shows come and go. There are not many spectacular ones like Bright Nights left in the country. I believe one of the reasons for its longevity is its enduring nature as part of the community, as well as its regional feel for visitors highlighting historical aspects associated with the area such as Dr. Seuss, Everett Barney, and board games created at the time by nearby Milton Bradley Company,” said Catenaci. Now, 25 years later, the vision to create lasting memories has spanned three generations of families, put Springfield on the holiday map nationwide, and shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, Bright Nights has truly become “A Treasured Tradition.”
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Bright Nights for me is all about family. Every year when I was young, my Mom’s side of the family would visit from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey for Christmas and the holidays. My Grandmother and Great Aunt would prepare a massive Italian meal and before dessert, they would shoo us out of the house with my Uncle and cousins, and we would all pile into the car and drive through Bright Nights. Like clockwork, by the time we got home, piles of cannolis, sfogliatelle, Italian cheesecake, ricotta cookies, and honey balls would be laid out and ready. Then the kids were in charge of cleaning up. Now I get to take my own children to Bright Nights. For me, Bright Nights has always been about family, and marking the holidays with love, good food, and pride in our community. Eric Lesser, State Senator Longmeadow, MA
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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Last year was tough for our family, and - in many ways - we had been in pure survival mode. Visiting Bright Nights with our two children was a beautiful escape into a bright, colorful world of Christmas. Both kids were in awe, pure joy lighting up their faces. And that kind of happiness is contagious. Bright Nights was a precious way for us to step into a more peaceful, joyous holiday season; and it’s a tradition we will continue for years to come. But I know that I will never forget this first visit and the bright smiles on my family’s faces. Nicole Beauvais Templeton, MA
A
fter 25 years, one might think that Bright Nights at Forest Park runs like a welloiled machine. While it pretty much does, there is still much to do to prepare for each new season. The planning begins at the Spirit of Springfield and Forest Park offices for the next year, the first day after the gates close in January. “One of the first things on our mind in January is securing our sponsorships for the coming year. It never ends. We look for sponsors year-round… you can’t open the gates for the next year without sponsors,” said Amy Barron-Burke, vice president, Spirit of Springfield. Proposals are put together and meetings are scheduled with past and potential new sponsors on an on-going basis. Before even meeting with any sponsors, whether new or returning, a complete financial and media analysis is compiled for the past season to share with them. “We don’t take anything for granted. When Amy and I go out on calls, we want to have all the answers for them.
Spirit of Springfield puts it all together BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
What were our income and expenses for the year? How many cars went through the gates and where did they travel from? What was the in-kind value of publicity in newspapers throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and beyond? How did our social media perform? Those are just some of the facts and figures we have ready to share with them. We are fortunate, however, that so many people have been with us for a long time and understand our product and the value they are getting for their money,” said Judith A. Matt, president, Spirit of Springfield. “The only time our numbers change dramatically is when we need to close for several days during a season because of snowy or icy weather. And if we close during the weekend, we never get that back,” said Matt. More often than not, however, sponsors and others ask why it was such a successful year for Bright Nights. “It is our marketing efforts. Despite the fact that we have a very limited budget to work with, we have been able to be
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at the Springfield Museums
Holiday events that
celebrate the season in Seussian style! 800.625.7738 800 80 625 7738 • SpringfieldMuseums SpringfieldMuseums.org/holiday ms org/holida org/holiday •
TM & © 2019 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All rights reserved.
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Journey Through Time American Flag, Garden of Peace (Dedicated in Loving Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives in the Tragic Events of September 11, 2001) and Happy Holidays, Springfield Added
JUNE 1995
SEPTEMBER 1995
John Catenaci’s Art Boards Begin to Arrive
JULY 1995
Bright Nights Opens NOVEMBER 1995
American Bus Association Top 100 for 2000
DECEMBER 2002
NOVEMBER 2018
DECEMBER 2007 Jurassic World Added
NOVEMBER 2005
APRIL 2000
Nativity Added (after ruling from the City of Springfield Law Department)
NOVEMBER 1998 Kwanzaa Added (1st in the country)
Carousel Ride Added to Santa’s Magical Forest
Bright Nights Season Pass First Season
NOVEMBER 2014
Bright Nights Recognized by People Magazine Online
NOVEMBER 2017
DECEMBER 2007
MARCH 2001
Best Tourism Creative Execution – Events from Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
DECEMBER 2004 First Military Night
NOVEMBER 2007 Roadway Lighting Switched to LED & Santa’s Magical Forest Enhanced
DECEMBER 1995
First Sponsorship Commitment by the Milton Bradley Company
Springfield Thunderbirds Display Added
NOVEMBER 2009
NOVEMBER 2000
Rose Garden in Forest Park Dedication
Bright Nights Breaks Ground
SEPTEMBER 1995
DECEMBER 2015
First Supper with Santa
SEPTEMBER 1999
OCTOBER 1995
Designer John Catenaci Makes First Trip to Springfield
DECEMBER 2006
Poinsettia Fantasy Entry and Monopoly Pieces Added
Barney Mansion, Noah’s Ark, Elf Package Toss, Elves Polishing Sleigh Added
NOVEMBER 1996
AUGUST 1995
New York Times Features Bright Nights
$10 Tuesday First Season
15th Anniversary Celebrated with Addition of the Winter Garden and Game of Life Spinner
NOVEMBER 2001
Bright Nights Announcement
Permission Received to Create Seuss Land
First Bright Nights 5K Road Race
NOVEMBER 2012
NOVEMBER 2016
Bright Nights Loyalty Card First Season
SEPTEMBER 2008 JANUARY 2001 Bus Count for Season Tops 800
NOVEMBER 2006 Santa’s Cottage Added
American Bus Association Top 100 for 2009
NOVEMBER 2015 Bright Nights Snow Globe premiered (retired 2017)
John J. Shea Bright Nights Technical Training Facility Ground Breaking
NOVEMBER 2019 MGM Springfield Display Added
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very inventive in our approach and expand our marketing as a result of collaborative relationships,” said Barron-Burke. “Our attendance has been rising at Bright Nights because of more affordable digital targeted marketing, which allows us to extend our reach into areas we were never able to get to before. Social media has played a big role in attracting light seekers to our gates,” she added. As the year progresses, a marketing plan is put together to publicize Bright Nights for the coming season. “We meet with our media partners and do a lot in trade in exchange for advertising on television, radio and in print,” Matt said. Those partners include WWLP-TV22, Western Mass News, The Republican, MassLive, Rock102, WMAS FM, The Reminder, WEIB FM, as well as iHeart Radio
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Website – Updating BrightNights.org. Santa’s Magical Forest – home to Santa’s Cottage and the Bright Nights Gift Shop, staff need to make sure Santa’s schedule allows the jolly ol’ elf to be available every night until Christmas Eve, stock has to be ordered for the Gift Shop and salespersons and ride operators hired, decisions must be made about what kiddie amusement rides will return, and more. Advertising – Radio and television ads are created by Chris Thibault of Chris Teebo Films and Charlie Breguet and Pat Gagnon of Baystate Health, and print ads are designed by Rebecca Coderre. Special Events – Working out all of the details for Supper with Santa, Military and Emergency Responders Night, Bright Nights 5K Road Race, and beginning as early as March to plan for the annu-
the radio transmitter has been installed and maintained by Springfield Police Sergeant Sean Sullivan and Officer Ricky Viruet. Front Gate – Hiring staff to sell tickets and hand out program booklets filled with information about Bright Nights. Also, making sure the live streaming video is available at BrightNights.org thanks to Sergeant Sullivan and Officer Viruet. That is just a part of the laundry list of everything that must happen for the Bright Nights gates to open in time for another year of making memories. And the folks at Forest Park are also busy planning too. “We hold a number of meetings throughout the year with the Bright Nights crew and other staff, the first of which begins shortly after the season ends. We do a complete recap of the prior year,
who also secures coverage for Bright Nights in the Boston area. Other trades are also made with the Journal Inquirer for coverage in Connecticut, and with direct marketing into homes with Valpak. There is still plenty more to do throughout the year, including: Appreciation Breakfast – Planning begins immediately in January for the annual Appreciation Breakfast to thank sponsors, workers, and supporters for their role in another successful season of Bright Nights at Forest Park. Traffic Management – Scheduling the Springfield Police Department and coordinating the nights when the Springfield Department of Public Works places the bright orange cones on Sumner Avenue. Security – Coordinating security personnel inside Forest Park.
al Bright Nights Ball extravaganza and fundraiser. Carriage and Wagon Rides – Making sure the horses are ready to take riders on an open-air excursion through a portion of Bright Nights, and taking reservations. Supplies – Ordering a long list of supplies such as jumpsuits for front gate workers and ride operators, and additional electrical supplies to light the lights, such as hundreds of electrical cords and new LED bulbs, two-way radios, and plenty more supplies. Tickets also have to be ordered and delivered to Big Y Supermarkets for sale. Bright Nights Radio – Writing a script, prepared by Keith O’Connor from Baystate Health, for the voice of the jolly ol’ elf provided by Anthony Cignoli, from A. L. Cignoli Company, who introduces the holiday songs heard on North Pole Radio. For years,
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including an overview of the displays that need to be rebulbed for the upcoming year and which might need to be repaired or have their motorized mechanisms replaced. Our goal is to eventually replace every display with LED lighting and we discuss which ones will be next at the meeting. There is also a discussion of traffic control and how well it was managed and what changes might be needed for the next season,” said Patrick J. Sullivan, executive director of the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management. A list is also compiled as the months go on of needed supplies – nuts, bolts, wire and cable, extension cords, LED bulbs and more – that must be ordered in time for the Bright Nights crew to begin setup on time in October. Sullivan noted that David R. Northrup Electrical Contractors are contacted in August to begin installation in September of the many electrical panel boxes needed throughout the park to distribute power to the displays. They return two weeks before the gates open to begin plugging everything in and balancing the electrical load. As the time nears to begin Bright Nights anew for another year, the park crew begins “operation cleanup,” picking up leaves along the three-mile route to make sure the roads are clear and neat adding to the welcoming atmosphere of a leisurely drive through Bright Nights. Trees are also trimmed and dead branches are removed
BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
for additional safety. “We have a great crew at the park and make the safety of the Bright Nights’ visitors our top priority when it snows. We plow, sand and salt. And, we come in as early as needed and stay late to keep everyone safe,” said John Bilodeau, building supervisor, Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, who works closely with other members of the department, including Pete Krupczak and Tom Dougal. It is the Bright Nights crew who over a six-month period set up and maintain the ornamental displays in tiptop shape, then dismantles them. It is a labor of love for the dedicated Bright Nights crew, who pride themselves in making each drive through Bright Nights picture perfect for those who expect nothing less for their money. It is hard work in the late heat of September to the freezing cold temperatures in the winter months, but their sacrifices and lost family time, especially at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve don’t go unrecognized. “The extra attention and level of pride the crew puts into the installation of the many Bright Nights displays is reflective of how much they truly enjoy what they do. Their job is never done. When the gates finally open in November, the crew is busy maintaining the displays by making sure no bulbs are burnt out and that everything is in working order,” said Sullivan.
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Wishing you many more Wishing you years of many more years of
Bright Bright Nights Nights! at
Forest Park
Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
My family and I have gotten the Bright Nights season pass every year since they started offering them. We have created such an awesome family tradition, going almost every night when open. I love watching our son make a wish out the sun roof every time we go through the “twinkle tunnel” (the arch of blue lights). He absolutely loves Santa’s Magical Forest and it’s always an extra special trip when we get to stop in and see Santa. Thank you, Bright Nights, for making our holiday season that much brighter. We already got our next year’s season pass, and look forward to many more amazing years in the future. PS - my family has also added the Bright Nights 5k to our traditions, and there’s nothing like it!! Keep up the great work! Jessica Gonthier Springfield, MA
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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Bright Nights is intertwined with many of our family’s favorite holiday traditions. It has been the setting for so many of our cherished memories. For as long as we can remember, Thanksgiving Eve has meant the lighting of the lights – a chance to revisit our old favorites and marvel at the new additions. The excited anticipation of waiting for our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to arrive so that we can make our annual trip through Bright Nights to find Rudolph in the Winter Woods, wave hello to Cindy Lou Who, and catch a glimpse of Santa flying over Springfield, will never grow old. As the years pass, we recognize that our annual trip through Bright Nights is a chance for our family to spend time with those we love and share the joy and happiness that Springfield’s holiday treasure, Bright Nights, offers. The Sullivan Family Springfield, MA
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I am 34 years old and my brother is 30. We still make my dad bring us through Bright Nights on Christmas Eve. There is absolutely no line which is probably why he agrees to do it. We will comment on new displays, call out the cars who don’t shut their lights off, and have the SAME EXACT conversation about Barney’s Mansion when we pass it. “(DAD) Yes, it was a shame they tore the original down... was it for the highway? I think it was for the highway... (MOM) I remember seeing it when I was kid - (DAD) was it near the Carriage House? I think it was near the Carriage House.” Andrea Bongiovi Quincy, MA
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
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The Crew Who Lights the Night
O
ver the past 25 years, the Bright Nights crew has welcomed new members and said goodbye to other team members including Fran Clark, Brice Akers, Danny Amazeen, Jake Hanechak, Sam Lee, Dennis O’Brien, Tom Wright and Joseph Tobin. Today’s crew consists of David Cuoco, William Vezina, Darrell Rogers, and Idris Abdul -Ali. On June 27, 2019, the crew along with retired member Joseph Tobin gathered at Forest Park to share their own unique memories and stories about the Northeast’s premier holiday lighting experience. Here is their story. Joseph Tobin is thankful for the memories Bright Nights has created for him and for his role in helping to make it possible each holiday season. “I was part of the park’s seasonal work crew. I still remember coming home one day and my wife telling me that I now had a full-time position because
of Bright Nights,” said the retired park employee, who at the time didn’t know much about what would become one of the most spectacular holiday light shows in the country. David Cuoco, who would lead a crew of seven men that first year, didn’t know
“I saw some diagrams of the lighting displays and knew this would be a giant project. I didn’t really know what to expect, other than realizing it was something new for the area,” said Cuoco, who like Tobin, was on the job from day one. “I thought it would be great,
began arriving in September. “Some of these boxes weighed as much as 500 pounds, and when we opened them there were no directions and a lot of broken bulbs from shipment,” said Tobin. “It certainly was a puzzle in the beginning. The displays looked exactly like the
toys called Erector sets, that’s what it’s like putting all the displays together. I wish I could count how many nuts and bolts I’ve drilled into them over the years,” said William Vezina. While it was a challenge at first, it didn’t take long for the talented and inventive crew to figure everything out and to move forward on a new project that they really put their heart and soul into. “After we calmed down a bit and looked everything over, we began to realize that the bottoms to the displays had a certain style to them, and we learned to work our way up with the other pieces. After putting up a few displays we were able to say to ourselves, Judith A. Matt, President, Spirit of Springfield ‘OK, we’ve got this… we don’t need any directions… and we were much calmer about the much more about the displays one of the best things ever for original artwork, which was whole thing,” said Tobin. either, other than the fact that Springfield,” added Tobin. somewhat of a help, and we To lend an extra helping they would pretty much live Then the real fun began had a map so we knew where hand, John Catenaci, Carand breathe Bright Nights as boxes from Carpenter they would go in the park,” penter Decorating’s design from September through Decorating in Hickory, North added Cuoco. director, flew in and spent a March each year. Carolina, filled with displays “Remember those old metal couple of weeks offering his
“There are no words to express how I feel about our beloved Bright Nights crew. They are truly a part of the Bright Nights family. It goes without saying that if it were not for them, there would be no Bright Nights.”
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
are hoisted high into the air to hang dramatic drop lighting from the trees throughout the park, something which is unique to Bright Nights. Also unique to Bright Nights is the installation of roadroad way lighting along the entire three-mile route. It is unrolled from specially -constructed three-foot plywood spools mounted on a truck. And, there have been other inveninven tions designed by the crew to help make the job easier, such as the Gatlin Gun. The clever device is actually an extension cord roller that rolls 50-100 feet of extension cords in 3-5 seconds. “Fran Clark from our crew, who passed away, just loved and lived for Bright Nights. attached to plugs leading from He was a great guy who support and guidance along “Seuss Land Arch,” and the invented a vice grip that had each display, and eventualwith John Stumpf, project volcano in “Jurassic World.” a carriage bolt welded to it manager, during what proved These require the use of a 65- ly connected to one of 150 that was used to press on new to be a rather intense firstfoot boom lift. When the last breaker boxes which comsockets if any were damaged. bined provide the electricity time setup. display is complete, the crew needed today to power Bright We’ve had that tool ever since begins the next phase of the Most of the frames are and it’s probably one of the set-up process, loading sever- Nights. erected manually except for handiest, next to those spools In addition to setting up all the taller displays, such as the al trucks with 100-foot-long used for the roadway lightextension cords. The endless the displays, crew members “Giant Poinsettia Candles,” climb into a cherry picker and ing,” said Cuoco. “Happy Holidays Springfield,” wires are then uncoiled, Even after the last display is completed near the gates in full view of cars passing by the entrance to Forest Park, there is still more work to be done. Breakdowns and cars overheating keep the crew busy throughout each night. They have also helped people who ran out of gas and others whose batteries needed a jump start. “I remember one incident where a car broke down involving two small children and an infant. At the time, we were still working out of the park’s old horse barn, and I wasn’t going to bring them to that dingy, filthy barn to keep warm. So, I drove the father and his children down to Pizzeria Uno in Springfield, where he met his brother from Hartford,” said Vezina, who noted the car had to be towed. While bringing Bright Nights to life every season goes off like clockwork today, there was a hiccup, a major one, back in 2011, when Mother Nature dumped a foot of snow in Western Massachusetts during a historic October snowstorm. The heavy Proud Sponsor of Bright Nights wet snow, combined with
Making the Spirit Bright
Here’s to cold winter nights, nose prints on windows, warm family memories & dreams full of light.
Congratulations Bright Nights on 25 Years!
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leaves that still had not fallen off their limbs, resulted in a number of downed trees. “The storm put us at a standstill for a week as we helped to clear the roads of downed branches. I really thought that Bright Nights would have to be canceled due to the lost time and the damage done to some displays that had already been set up. Some were totally crushed by massive branches that fell from oak trees behind the zoo, and would eventually be replaced. Other displays, which were only slightly bent, were fixed on the spot. All of the guys really pulled together and persevered so that the gates would open on time, and they did thanks to them,” said Cuoco. When the lights are unplugged each year shortly after 9 p.m. on the final night, the crew looks back at the past six weeks of Bright Nights with a sense of pride and accomplishment. “I never thought in a million years when I came to Springfield that not only would I be working for the city, but that I would be a part of something very special… a tradition that brings joy and happiness to a lot of people, including my own family,” said Darrell Rogers. “There is a real feeling of accomplishment… of getting the job done and celebrating another successful year of people coming from all over to keep their traditions going. It’s a good feeling and I am happy to have been a part of Bright Nights from the very start,” said Cuoco. “For me, it’s being able to give away free passes to some folks who weren’t expecting them, and then to see the smiles on their faces. It makes you feel good,” said Idris Abdul-Ali. “I get to see my grandkids who live hours away and it’s a joy to see them having a great time at Bright Nights. I also enjoy seeing other kids having a fun ride through the park and yelling ‘Happy Christmas!’ out the windows of their cars. Marriage has even been proposed on carriage rides through Bright Nights,” said Vezina.
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“I feel tired, but happy. When I’m in a restaurant, I like to give free passes to kids who have never gone through Bright Nights. It’s really the best thing to ever happen to Springfield, and we should keep it going forever,” said Tobin. Even after Bright Nights ends each year, the crew’s job still isn’t done. “Sleeping in” isn’t an option because the very next day, the displays are disassembled and tucked away for another year. Everything has to be down by the second week in March, just in time for the crew to begin their spring and summer duties – tending to the city’s many playing fields. “I like to go out in the park right away and pick up all of the electrical cords first, before they really become frozen to the ground or completely snowed over if we haven’t had a major snowfall yet. If we need to chop around the cords to free them, then we run the risk of cutting them. It is definitely tougher taking the displays down than setting them up. The winter weather combined with the cold metal frames can make it a real challenge,” said Cuoco. While Vezina’s earlier description of the “dingy, filthy” horse barn that once housed all of the displays is correct, even before then they operated out of a freezing
BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
cold and equally dirty storage area under the park’s grandstand. Today, the displays are “tucked away” in a new storage facility that was constructed and opened in 2016, which the crew now calls “heaven.” “We finally had heat and bathrooms,” said Tobin. “We are very thankful for our new home. It’s such a great facility with so much open space for us to work in. It’s also outfitted with outlets hanging from the ceiling that we can easily plug into in order to test all of the lights before any display leaves the building,” said Cuoco. When the crew leaves the storage facility to begin setting up Bright Nights each year, they start at the back of the park. When the time arrives to take them all down, however, the crew begins at the front of the park. The order is changed so that when the displays are stored away, those that will go
up first when the next season arrives are closest to the doors. Just as everyone driving through Bright Nights has their favorite displays, the same holds true for the crew. For Rogers it changes from time to time. Once it was Victorian Village and now the Blizzard Tunnel is his favorite. “I’m a hockey player, so I like the new Thunderbirds display that was added in 2018,” said Cuoco. “I like watching the way the water animates out from the Watering Angel. That’s my favorite,” said Vezina. Abdul-Ali enjoys the beauty of the Winter Garden and Tobin said it is the majesty of the Poinsettia Arch that grabs his attention. When the 25th anniversary season ends in January 2020, some of their preferences may change to include the new animated MGM lion.
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Fun Facts
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About Bright Nights
Annual Attendance: 200,000 Economic Impact: $11.7 million annually Seasonal Employees: 56 Front Gate Ticket Sellers and Greeters, Gift Shop Staff and Ride Operators Nights Open Since 1995: 954 Nights Closed Due to Weather Since 1995: 18 (6 during the first season) Number of Lights: More than 675,000 and growing Number of Display Pieces: 420 Number of Extension Cords: 350 Number of Breaker Boxes: 130 Feet of Roadway Lighting: 31,680 Days to Set Up: 60 Days to Take Down: 50 (Except in 2014 when Springfield received several major snowstorms as displays were being taken down and put into storage, extending the process to 75 days) First Display to Arrive: Waving Snowman
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BRIGHT NIGHTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Inventions Roadway Lighting Rollers Socket Press-on Tool Extension Cord Roller nicknamed the “Gatlin Gun”, rolls 50 to 100 feet of extension cords in 3 to 5 seconds.
Displays Seuss Land was created in honor of Springfield native, Theodor S. Geisel, Dr. Seuss, with the permission of his wife, Audrey Geisel. Theodor R. Geisel, the author’s father, was Superintendent of Forest Park. Toy Land is a tribute to the Milton Bradley Company that was founded in Springfield in 1860. Victorian Village and the Barney Mansion pay homage to Everett H. Barney who donated 178 acres of land to Forest Park. The skaters were inspired by the clamp-on ice skate patented by Barney in 1861.The mansion is a replica of his home that was once a part of Forest Park. Kwanzaa light display was the first in the country when it was commissioned by the Spirit of Springfield for Bright Nights in 1998.
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A Treasured Tradition for 25 Years
November 27 - January 5 Closed December 2-3
Forest Park, Springfield, MA
NEW! 25th Anniversary Bright Nights Book
A collection of 25 Years of Visitor Memories and Beautiful Bright Nights Displays Get your book at: www.brightnights.org/online-store/
brightnights.org