By Joe St. Henry
Review Editor
Forget a seat with Santa – Lake Orion’s Holly Jolly Folly fundraiser may be the hottest ticket in town this holiday season.
The event, to be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, benefits the Orion Area Lighted Parade that takes place the next evening.
Last year, the benefit was held at Indianwood Golf and Country Club because sponsor Golling Buick GMC was undergoing extensive renovations. It was a sellout and, unfortunately, some folks who wanted to attend were turned away.
Carl Cyrowski, Orion Area Parade Group (OAPG) president, said this year’s benefit will be held at the remodeled dealership on Lapeer Road. It can hold 300 people and he expects tickets to again go fast. Those interested in attending should buy theirs as soon as possible, he recommends. Tickets cost $30 per person, or $270 for a table of 10.
‘It’s a really enjoyable event that has gotten bigger each year we’ve held it,? he said. ‘The Holly Jolly Folly really gets people in the holiday spirit, and then we have the parade the next night.?
The president said the OAPG hopes to raise $10,000 for the parade through ticket sales and a silent auction. He noted thanks to the generosity of Golling, most of the proceeds benefit the non-profit organization.
‘Golling’s support of this event has been simply unbelievable,? Cyrowski said. ‘It’s very expensive to put on such a dinner with beverages and entertainment at a rented facility and they pick up virtually all of the costs. This enables us to put all of the money back into the parade.?
Outside expenses for the parade include the rental of costumes, as well as the feeding of parade participants and volunteers before the event, Cyrowski said.
As in the past, the Holly Jolly Folly will include dinner, cash bar, live entertainment, the silent auction and holiday music provided by the Lake Orion High School choir.
‘This is a great opportunity to support Lake Orion’s lighted parade,? said OAPG Vice President Bill Kokenos. ‘Ours is the second-largest lighted parade in the state.?
For those who may not be familiar with the Orion Lighted Parade, the event began in 1989 and is held on the first Saturday of December. It traverses the downtown streets of the Village of Lake Orion and features more than 75 entries each year, including civic organizations, scout troops, marching bands, school and church groups, businesses, local dignataries and more.
The fundraiser also recognizes Lake Orion’s volunteer citizen the year, chosen by OAPG representatives.
Tickets can be purchased online at orionlightedparade.org or at Golling Buick GMC, 1491 S. Lapeer Road, in Lake Orion.