by Olive Pea
This fall, TVE has hosted yet another wonderful celebration for this fantastic community. This family dance was dedicated to the fall harvest, and I am sure it has created a lot of happy memories for a lot of people. TVE thanks all of those who helped make this special event happen from set up to clean up, and everything in between.
The TVE Leadership team along with their families and a few volunteers showed up around 4:00pm on Saturday, 22nd of October at the Grange to set up for the dance. The kitchen was set up in a cafeteria style. Four tables were set with fall themed tablecloths and were later laid with baked goods and other snacks brought by contestants for the potluck. Two more tables were set to the right of the entrance door for registration and activities such as a scavenger hunt, and glow stick bracelets. There was also a jar of candy corn, for participants to guess how many were in it. Whoever guessed the closest to the accurate number would get the whole jar!
In a far corner of the room there were two more tables draped with more fall tablecloths for the pumpkin painting craft. Those tables were set with aprons, drawing supplies, and flat wooden pumpkin cutouts to draw on. On the ceiling, paper jack o’lantern lights were hung, and the back of the chairs had battery operated candles that gave off a soft, glowing light when it was dark. There were two stages in the room, the smaller one was set up for a photo booth. The backdrop was a full moon with pumpkins and autumn colored leaves, and in front of the stage there was a ring-shaped light. There were also props for the photos such as glittery paper mustaches and bows. On the other bigger stage, the DJ booth was set up. Right outside the building, a section of the parking lot was coned off for games and two more tables. There was Connect Four, big Jenga, and there was even mini golf, but instead of holes you had to hit the ball into a carved pumpkin’s mouth.
All of this was finished by 5:30pm, which gave everyone who was helping set up 30 minutes to change into costumes. People started arriving at 6:00pm for the party in costume, and brought snacks for the potluck. There were all kinds of bright and colorful costumes all the way from flamingos to wicked witches of the west!
Pictures were taken on the little stage in front of the backdrop all through the evening of families and friends in their costumes. At around 6:45pm the costume parade started. Everyone walked all around the Grange in a line to This Is Halloween from the movie A Nightmare Before Christmas.
At around 7:00pm, the lights turned off and the party music started. The first song of the night was I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. People then started dancing, playing games, and getting snacks and hot cocoa from the kitchen. After a few songs in, the DJ paused the music, and the lights went back on so the host could announce the winner of the candy corn jar. The winner guessed 365 candy corns which was the closest guess to the actual number of 377. After that, all the kids and a few adults stood in front of the stage with the DJ booth for a group photo. Then the lights went off again, and the music continued. During all the dancing and snacks, some members of the Lighthouse Press managed to interview six participants about the party. Here they are!
OLIVIA S.
Q. What costume are you wearing?
A. I am a Hufflepuff student from Hogwarts.
Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?
A. I love the Harry Potter book series. They’re like, my favorite books ever.
Q. What has been your favorite part of today’s Harvest Dance thus far?
A. I love seeing all my friends and dressing up is really fun, and dancing is my favorite thing to do.
Q. What is your favorite TVE event?
A. Probably the Harvest Dance or Spring Fling.
MITCHELL W.
Q. What costume are you wearing?
A. A vampire costume.
Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?
A. Because I think it looks good. And because my grandma made it.
Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?
A. Probably playing outside and dancing.
Q. What is your favorite TVE event?
A. Weekly park days.
MAYA
Q. What costume are you wearing?
A. Glamrock Freddy.
Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?
A. Because my brother looks like Gregory who is also from the same video game.
Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?
A. The people.
Q. What is your favorite TVE event?
A. Parkdays.
ELIZA B.
Q. What costume are you wearing?
A. I am Evie from Descendants.
Q What inspired you to wear this costume?
A. I really like the movies, and me and my friend Sophia are both people from Descendants.
Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?
A. Dancing.
Q. What is your favorite TVE event?
A. Well, probably the Harvest Dance or the Spring Fling.
SOPHIA S.
Q. What costume are you wearing?
A. A Descendants Mal costume.
Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?
A. Well, I really like the movie and I was dressing up as this with my friend.
Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?
A. I think the dancing.
Q. What is your favorite TVE event?
A. I like the Spring Fling.
ALEENA
Q. What costume are you wearing?
A. I am wearing a Hermione Granger costume.
Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?
A. I have actually been it for a very, very long time and I am obsessed with Harry Potter, so yeah!
Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?
A. Probably the dancing.
Q. What is your favorite TVE event?
A. I think probably the Harvest Dance or the Spring Fling.
Thank all of you who we interviewed for this article! Those interviews were awesome. After the interviews were finished, everyone who had participated then returned to the dance floor for more music, dancing and fun! Some went to the kitchen for a quick snack. At around 9:30pm, the bulk of people that were there had returned to their homes for the night, so the lights came on and the music stopped. The remaining participants and TVE Leadership started to clean up tables, food, and decor. By the time everything was cleaned up at 10:00pm, people started heading out.
The Harvest Dance was a truly special event that for many, (including myself) is one of the most special days of the year. Once again, we thank all of those who made this all happen. I hope everyone has a wonderful fall and a Happy Halloween!
The Lighthouse 