Lilley Cares held its 2023 Kickoff Sparkle event on Thursday, October 12 at Fuel. The event was underwritten by The Sandi Gentry Team and Sandi was pleased to host Brena, the popular rock band, to entertain the attendees. Jennifer Harris, the new owner of Fuel Bar + Refuge, offered special cocktails and appetizers for a very festive evening in Spring Lake.
Sparkle, the event that highlights the Christmas holidays each year, is the signature event of Lilley Cares, a Spring Lake nonprofit organization. Sparkle began in 2020 by lighting Savidge Street in Spring Lake and highlighting the changes in the Village of Spring Lake. Each year the local community has donated time and treasure to keep Sparkle lights along M104 and highlighting special events in the Village.
Sparkle kicks off each October and prepares for its Kick Off scheduled for Saturday, November 25 in the Courtyard at Epicurean Village. This year, the village of Spring Lake will take over the managing of the lighting of downtown while Lilley Cares continues its tradition of hosting holiday events throughout the village from late November through December.
Sandi Gentry, a longtime supporter of Sparkle and Lilley Cares, hosted the 3rd annual Brena Fuel event on Thursday, October 12 with music and silent auction items. Ms Gentry, the area's well-known realtor and her dynamic team, not only hosted but organized this Brena Fuel event as they do each year. "We are grateful for Sandi's support each year as she plans this important initial event for Sparkle," said Joan Mack, Lilley Cares Executive Director. "It always puts us in the mood to start to think about the holiday season and this event means we always start in a very positive way." The event is the first of the Sparkle season which raises much-needed funds to bring the myriad of events to the community including Santa Claus, local school choirs, the Spring Lake Dance Team and more.
Just ahead of this event, Lilley Mansion welcomed some of Lilley Cares supporters to a small reception at the Mansion. Patrick Roggenbau, host of the Lilley Mansion, also serves on the Lilley Cares board of directors. It is his tradition to open the Mansion's reception rooms and welcome those who have been supporters of Lilley Cares and Sparkle since the beginning of this holiday tradition. "Patrick and the Mansion are such an inspiration to us as we gather with a sparkling drink and yummy food to say thank you and please join us again this year," said Ms. Mack. "It makes for a very festive and successful Spring Lake evening and we are thankful."
This year, Sparkle will include a Light Up the Village contest featuring residential, business and churches competing for prizes as they decorate homes and businesses to celebrate the holidays. Details on this will be posted on the Spring Lake Sparkle Facebook page. Two Spring Lake school choirs will sign Christmas carols downtown on Tuesday, Nov 28 - hot cocoa will be serve at Infinity Dental to welcome you downtown during the choir carol sing. The Spring Lake Intermediate school choir will sing downtown on Thursday, Dec 14. Plus, Santa will meet the kids throughout the month of December to listen to their holiday wishes.
Join Lilley Cares to kick off the Sparkle Holiday season Saturday evening at 6 pm on November 25 in downtown Spring Lake at Epicurean Village. Santa's hours Saturday night will be 6 - 8 pm, Sunday 3 - 6 pm. Thereafter Santa will publish his hours on Facebook and at the Santa House. The calendar of events will be posted on Sparkle's Facebook page throughout December.