Mayor Sarno and Commissioner Clapprood Proudly Join with Springfield Together, Strong Young Minds, Elks Lodge #61 and other Community Partners for a Special ‘Springfield Holiday Festival’

Springfield, Mass. — Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood are pleased to announced the City of Springfield Police Department will partner with Springfield Together Inc., Strong Young Minds, Elks Lodge #61 and other community partners to host an Annual Holiday Festival in Court Square on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Joining Mayor Sarno and Commissioner Clapprood for the announcement was Mary Shea from the Elks Lodge #61, Gary DeLisle from Springfield Together and Teka Jones from Strong Young Minds.

The Springfield Elks Lodge #61, Walmart, Dunn & Phillips, P.C., and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi are also proud supporters and sponsors of this special holiday event.

Mayor Sarno, the Springfield Police Department, Springfield Together Inc. and Strong Young Minds would like to invite the public to Springfield Court Square on Sunday, December 19th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, where they will find many opportunities to celebrate the start of the holiday season, including musical performances, poets, and performance groups. There will also be a special visit from Santa with photo opportunities and hot chocolate and other treats.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional children’s Holiday festivities and events have been limited, if not canceled. In light of this, these partner organizations have decided to give everyone in our city the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season spectacularly to promote happiness and togetherness among our residents and business owners.

Mayor Sarno states, “I want to commend and thank the team at Springfield Together, Strong Young Minds and my brother and sister Elks for their caring, compassion and unyielding and continuing efforts on behalf of our residents, especially for our children.  Throughout this pandemic, the City of Springfield has been blessed with organizations and agencies stepping up to provide our children and their families with safe and heartfelt events.  Springfield Together has helped to organize a number of community events to benefit our community, from the Summer Kickoff Drive-Thru to help get our kids ready for school to the Halloween Trick or Treating event.  Most recently, these partner organizations teamed up with Walmart on Boston Road to hold a Stuff a Cruiser event so that those children and families in need can enjoy some holiday cheer.  Now I am proud to join with all of the sponsors to hold this Holiday Festival.  Their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable event for our families, especially around the holiday seasons, is greatly appreciated.”

Springfield Police Commissioner Clapprood stated, “I am pleased to participate in the Holiday Festival this year.  I would like to thank Springfield Together Inc., Strong Young Minds and the Elks Lodge for organizing the Festival.  It’s a perfect opportunity for myself and members of the department to join members of our community and celebrate the holiday season.”

A tentative schedule of events, information on how to participate in the event, and volunteer opportunities leading up to and on the day, can be found on Facebook at Springfield Together Inc’s Page or our website at www.springfieldtogether.org.

To participate as a volunteer, please visit: https://forms.gle/erzGAWyPZkeLWbZv7

For organizations wanting to support our Annual Holiday Festival, please email us at springfieldtogetherinc@gmail.com