If you’re looking to make Mother’s Day weekend especially special this year, look no further than Pleasant View Communities’ Community Day celebration on Saturday, May 13!
This family-friendly event is open to residents, staff, and the greater Manheim public and will feature food, games, and activities for everyone to enjoy. Best of all, because it will occur on Mother’s Day weekend, it’s a great opportunity to bring the whole family together for Mom.
The Deep Roots of Community Day at Pleasant View Communities
Community Day is an event that goes back years at Pleasant View.
Originally, it was organized as a sign-up for spring sports, but it eventually evolved into a festival. From then on, it has become a meaningful event for people of all ages.
“The festival is an exciting way for folks to interact across generations,” said Aubrey Smith, Pleasant View’s Community Engagement Coordinator.
Aubrey said while retirement communities can sometimes become siloed away from the larger public, Community Day creates a pathway for relationships to be forged between Pleasant View’s residents and the residents of greater Manheim.
What to Expect at This Year’s Community Day
As an example, this year’s Community Day will feature the Interact Club from Manheim Central High School, a student service club that has developed a strong relationship with Pleasant View over the years.
Also, present at this year’s event will be Seitz Puppetry, a puppet troupe founded by Pleasant View residents Dottie and Steve Seitz. The couple’s entertaining and educational puppet shows have been a hit across generations for years.
Both of these groups highlight the ambitious effort to organize a Community Day that showcases members of all ages and disciplines from our collective communities in Manheim and at Pleasant View.
The Unique Importance of This Year’s Community Day Celebration
Aubrey said this year’s Community Day will be particularly special.
“With COVID, the last three years have been very difficult,” she said. “Pleasant View is typically a very active community, so it’s been challenging not being able to gather. I’m very excited to offer people the opportunity to get together.”
As both a healthcare facility and a retirement community, Aubrey said Pleasant View was unable to host any events on campus during the pandemic or in the two years that followed. Sadly, one of the biggest antidotes to depression for seniors is socializing, and due to the restrictions on residents and staff, the inability to gather took a toll on everyone.
Fortunately, things have finally turned a corner this year, and people can once again come together and enjoy all the food, fellowship, and fun that come with Community Day.
A Noteworthy Line Up of Activities, Events, and Talent
This year’s planning committee was comprised of Pleasant View staff members and residents plus personnel from the Manheim Library and Manheim Community Cares. Nowhere is this collective effort more noticeable than in the diverse lineup of events and activities. Excitement for the festival is palpable across the Pleasant View campus.
In addition to the Interact Club and Seitz Puppetry, this year’s Community Day will feature The Manheim Community Library, Twister Sisters Ice Cream Truck, the Roof Rockers, Charlie’s Crusaders featuring adoptable dogs and puppies, Esther’s Collectibles Thrift Shop, the Lititz Golf Simulator, Cavod Performing Arts, Northwest EMS, face painting, various food vendors, and more!
Animals from Pleasant View’s Hoffer Farm will also be brought to the event and attendees will have the opportunity to interact with them. Hoffer Farm has been a significant development at Pleasant View in recent months, so it’s exciting for it to be showcased at Community Day.
A Special Event for a Special Weekend
Aubrey said she is hopeful that this year’s Community Day will attract a wide array of community members and their families.
“I encourage folks to include the event in their Mother’s Day celebrations”, she said. “We’ve all missed the opportunity to gather with the people we love most, and I know this day will feel very meaningful”.
Community Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at 2100 Town Square, Manheim, and will be held rain or shine. Personnel will be present on campus to help direct traffic. We can’t wait to see you there!
