By Rich Larson
Tickets for Saturday’s Dancing with the Northfield Stars are nearly gone, but organizers said residents can still watch, vote and give from home.
Northfield Shares Executive Director Carrie Carroll said the in-person event at the Grand Event Center was sold out, with perhaps two tickets left. Northfield Live will stream the full program to the wider community.
A pre-show video will begin at 6:30 p.m. with behind-the-scenes footage of the dance teams and background on each organization, Northfield Shares board member Joan Spaulding said. The competition starts at 7 p.m. Links to the stream are at northfieldlive.com and northfieldshares.org.
Seven nonprofits will dance: BelieVet, Epic Enterprise, the Northfield Area Family YMCA, Northfield Arts Guild, Project Friendship, Sharing Our Roots and The Key. Northfield Shares is the eighth beneficiary.
Carroll said more nonprofits signed up than there were spots, so organizers held a random drawing to pick the teams.
“We figured we didn’t want all of our friends to stay at the Grand until February,” she said.
Each donation counts as one vote. Supporters can give to one team or all of them, as many times as they like during the night. The number of donations makes up about 75% of each team’s final score, and the scores from four judges make up the other 25%. The winning team receives prize money and a trophy.
Viewers can donate by scanning QR codes on screen or through northfieldshares.org. People at the Grand can also leave cash or checks in envelopes.
Joan Spaulding said the evening is also meant to raise awareness of the groups, noting there are people in the community who are unfamiliar with these organizations.
Organizers said whether the event returns will depend on turnout and how much money it raises.
Rich Larson is the owner and General manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
