July 10—Some families who dared to brave the rain Saturday night had glowstick and blacklight fun with the Anniston Museums and Gardens “Let’s Glow Crazy” family dance.
The Longleaf Botanical Gardens Event Center in Anniston glowed in multicolored neon lights, lit up with several black lights, glowing balloons and strobe lights. Acosta Entertainment set up a DJ booth out back, and several Anniston Museums and Gardens staff staffed a food and refreshment table filled with pizza, chicken fingers and goodies.
Anniston Museums and Gardens Deputy Director Sarah Burke stood with other staff members dressed in a bright orange tutu and brightly colored makeup.
“The core of our attendees here who visit us are families, so we try to cater and create events that are perfect for them and people of all ages,” Burke said.
Because the event was held at the Longleaf Botanical Gardens Event Center, the party theme featured fireflies. In addition to dancing, face painting and a black light photo booth, kids could make a firefly to take home, Burke said.
Three-year-old Ava Talley sat at the craft table with her mom and dad coloring a piece of black paper in the shape of a glowing insect.
“The colors are really pretty,” Talley said.
The theme for the event was created by the museum’s fundraising committee; a four-person board that makes decisions and comes up with ideas to create campus-wide funds, according to program manager Amy Roberts.
“We sit down, and we spit out ideas and come up with what we think is best, and we play a part in what we come up with,” Roberts said.
Money raised from the event would help the museum fund its education and exhibits, according to Burke.
The kids were dreading stepping onto the dance floor at first, but before long the space was filled with tiny people moving and growling in the multicolored glow. Even some parents had fun dancing with their children.
