𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

This year, Springfield’s September 11th Ceremony was more impactful and meaningful as we marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks on our country and paid a special tribute to the late Dennis Leger who served as the Aide to the Springfield Fire Commissioner. He played a leading role in organizing and sustaining the annual ceremony until his retirement in 2020.

Thank you to all who participated and all who joined us in Riverfront Park on September 11th.

Also, a special thank you to Rocco Falcone and Rocky’s Ace Hardware for sponsoring the 2026 City of Bright Nights Ball. It will be a grand night to celebrate the 100th anniversary of one of the finest Springfield-based businesses.

-- Judy Matt

President

Big Bright Nights Ball Announcement

The proverbial baton was passed from Florence Bank to Rocky’s Ace Hardware when the City of Bright Nights Ball sponsor was announced on Friday, September 18th at MGM Springfield. Florence Bank President & CEO Matt Garrity also announced Rocco Falcone, President of Rocky’s Ace Hardware, as his successor as the gala’s Honorary Chair.

It will be “a wonderful night for a moon dance!” The annual black-tie-only gala will celebrate Rocky’s Ace Hardware’s 100th anniversary and the Spirit of Springfield’s mission to bring the community together in celebration.

Guests attending the November 7th celebration at MGM Springfield will enjoy a gourmet dinner, dancing to live music, live and silent auctions, and a chance to take home the winnings from a 50/50 raffle. They will be greeted by students from Western New England University and immersed in dazzling décor to match the elegant theme, “Romancing the Moon.”

The menu, auction updates, and event details are available online at spiritofspringfield.org. Tickets are $400 each with tables of ten available for $4,000. Reservations can be made by contacting amy@spiritspringfield.org.

Bidding for the Bright Nights Ball

Browse before the bidding opens! Items for the City of Bright Nights Ball are being added often, and they are open to all, not just guests attending the November 7th gala.

Bidding for trips, experiences, entertainment, jewelry, sports, and more will open later this month, and close at the City of Bright Nights Ball at 9pm. Guests will collect their winnings. Off-site winners can contact the Spirit of Springfield to secure their purchases.

To preview available items, visit spiritofspringfield.org.

Supper with Santa

Dressed in holiday attire, the Barney Carriage House is the perfect setting for Bright Nights at Forest Park’s Supper with Santa. It will make for a magical and memorable experience for the whole family. It has become a tradition for many.

Guests will gather around their dinner table with one seat reserved for the guest of honor, Santa. He will listen to holiday wish lists, pose for photographs, spread Christmas cheer, and send every child home with a souvenir Bright Nights light up wand.

There will be a scrumptious buffet dinner for dining. It will a include a winter salad with cranberry vinaigrette, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders with barbeque sauce, ketchup or honey mustard dipping sauce, ziti marinara, and for a sweet treat Christmas cookies and brownies, and hot chocolate with whipped cream.

Reservations are now being accepted for Sunday, December 6; Friday, December 11; Sunday, December 13; and Friday, December 18, 2026. The first seating is at 5:30pm and the last is at 7pm with only 40 seats available for each 30-minute timeslot.

Every reservation includes a Bright Nights at Forest Park complimentary general admission car ticket (seating capacity of up to 8 passengers), a $30 value. Tickets are $30 per person, $15 for children under 12 years old, and free for children under 2 years of age.

To secure seats for Bright Nights at Forest Park’s Supper with Santa or get more information visit brightnights.org.

New Bright Nights Children's Book

There is a new character and a new story joining the Bright Nights at Forest Park children’s book series. His name is Hugo the Hippo. He can’t sleep. His friends Geffy Giraffe and an elephant try to help. They finally have success when they bring Hugo to Bright Nights.

“I was afraid of the dark,” he said. “But the dark was just waiting — for all this light.”

The books are adorable and engaging for young readers. Each book has a companion plush toy that can be purchased separately or as a gift set. There is the Little Reindeer, Pablo the Penguin, Diego the Dinosaur, Little Frog, and more. They will be available at the Bright Nights Gift Shop when it opens for the season on November 25th.

The books were written by Michèle Dufresne, CEO and Creative Director for Pioneer Valley Books, and beautifully illustrated by Ukrainian artist Max Stasiuk.

Bright Nights 5K Sells Out Quick

The Bright Nights 5K Road Race was quick to sell out! The registration opened at 12am on Monday, September 21st, and it closed before 8am the same day. There was a flurry of activity at midnight – 70 registered in the first minute.

As the sun started to rise, so did the number of registered runners. Most were local runners, but some will be crossing state borders from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and two all the way from Chicago. They range in age from 14, the minimum age to participate, to 78.

The holiday fun run will be held Monday, November 30th with a rain date of December 1st. It is generously supported by Baystate Health/Health New England, Covestro, Freedom Credit Union, and Siemens.

September 11th Remembrance Ceremony

Springfield marked the 25th anniversary of the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001. It was the largest remembrance ceremony since the first on September 11, 2002. It had the most speakers, the most participation by military and first responders, and the largest roll out by emergency equipment.

Remarks and remembrances were made by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; U. S. Congressman Richard Neal; retired Springfield Fire Commissioner Gary Cassanelli; Patrick Sullivan, retired Executive Director of the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management; Springfield Fire Commissioner Miguel Rivera; Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers; and Patrick Leonardo, Regional Director for American Medical Response.

Retired Springfield Fire Department Lieutenant Daniel Keenan spoke about his experiences in New York City during the days immediately following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Bishop Bruce Shaw, Pastor of New Hope Pentecostal Church and a retired major with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, shared the experiences of his colleagues and reflected on the tragedies that occurred at the Pentagon. The program also featured a video message from Edward Cetnar, Superintendent of Police/Director of Public Safety for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

See more great photos by Chris Marion Photography.

Forever in Our Hearts Photo Exhibit

Springfield Photographer Chris Marion spent hours going through hundreds of photographs. They were from past September 11th Ceremonies, the National September 11th Memorial & Museum, Private Dennis Leger, retired Aide to the Springfield Fire Commissioner, and other contributors.

When the Forever in Our Hearts Photo Exhibit opened, it was overwhelming for Private Dennis Leger’s family. It was moving for those who experienced it, and it also featured a 25th anniversary video created by Penfield Productions.

Special thank you to Chris Marion for his expertise and installation, NAI Plotkin for hosting it, and JX2 Productions for equipment and materials.

See the gallery images and photos of the opening by Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen.

We Love Springfield Goes to Big E

The We Love Springfield Committee brought the holiday campaign to Massachusetts Day at The Big E. The team joined other Massachusetts institutions to celebrate the day and the Commonwealth with Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.

With new holiday-themed banners and table cover, We Love Springfield totes and brochures were shared along with Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame stress balls and Springfield Museums’ pencils. Guests had the opportunity to sign up for some great raffle prizes.

Winners were from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Many received general admission tickets for Bright Nights at Forest Park. Others won a MGM Springfield Yeti cooler, a gift card to White Lion Brewery, tickets to Springfield Thunderbirds, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Hall, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Springfield Museums.

Charlie Arment Trucking Steadfast & True

In 2024, they sponsored and served as the City of Bright Nights Ball Honorary Chair. This year, Charlie Arment Trucking continues their support as a Golden Circle Sponsor for the gala and Bright Nights at Forest Park’s Jurassic World display.

Since Springfield received an artifact of the World Trade Center from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2011, they have played a significant role in Springfield’s September 11th Monument that was dedicated in 2019.

They brought the artifact to Springfield, moved it to Salmon Studios where it was incorporated into the monument, delivered it and the accompanying bronze wall back to its resting place in Riverfront Park, and installed the companion kiosk in 2025.

They also move the Star Spangled Springfield fireworks into place on the Memorial Bridge.

ATTRACTION SPOTLIGHT:

Springfield Symphony Orcestra

A new home, a new season, and tickets are now on sale for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s incredible upcoming performances. They will fill Springfield Symphony Hall with orchestral sounds from October to May – 14 concerts in eight months.

There is something for every musical appetite. The season will open with a violin concerto, continue with a percussion trio, flute quartet, Stauss’s four last songs, Beethoven, jazz for the holidays, the music of John Williams, and so much more.

Learn more and purchase tickets at springfieldsymphonyorchestra.com or at their new box office located at 1350 Main Street in Downtown Springfield.

Coming Soon - U. S. Army Field Band Concert 🎶

The U. S. Army Field Band and the Soldiers' Chorus are bringing their 2026 fall tour to Springfield! They will be performing a free concert on Sunday, November 8th at 2pm in Springfield Symphony Hall.

Tickets will be available later this month at Pride Stores, Springfield Visitors Center, and One Financial Plaza, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Spirit of Springfield, 1350 Main Street, Suite 1004, Springfield, MA 01103.

It is going to be another wonderful afternoon of world class entertainment!

In this Issue

Big Bright Nights Ball

Announcement

Bidding for the Bright Nights Ball

Supper with Santa

New Bright Nights

Children's Book

Bright Nights 5K Sells Out Quick

September 11th

Remembrance Ceremony

Forever in Our Hearts

Photo Exhibit

We Love Springfield

Goes to Big E

Charlie Arment Trucking

Steadfast & True

ATTRACTION SPOTLIGHT

Springfield Symphony Orchestra

Coming Soon

U. S. Army Field Band Concert

Guest Column

Rocco Falcone

Rocky's Ace Hardware

Bright Nights Season Pass

Spirit of Springfield Calendar

Supper with Santa

We Love Springfield ❤️

Guest Column

Rocco J. Falcone, II

President, Rocky's Ace Hardware

My grandfather, Rocco “Rocky” Falcone, opened the first Rocky’s Hardware in March 1926, right here in the South End in downtown Springfield. From the start, our business has focused on helping and supporting the communities we serve.

I am delighted to celebrate Rocky’s 100th anniversary this year. My grandparents and father would be incredibly proud of the company’s growth and the many people we have served in our stores.

Serving as this year’s Honorary Chair of the City of Bright Nights Ball is a fitting way to celebrate our anniversary. The Spirit of Springfield has a rich history of producing events that strengthen our community and foster pride in the city. Bright Nights at Forest Park has captivated imaginations for generations, and the gala offers the region a wonderful opportunity to come together for an evening of celebration to kick off the holiday season.

I look forward to celebrating with all of you in November.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2026

City of Bright Nights Ball

Saturday, November 7th

6:30pm - Midnight

MGM Springfield