For the 30th year, a loyal group of volunteers throw a party Tuesday nights at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Clarkston.
The event includes dancing, eating and interaction for the mentally and physically challenged in the area.
“It is a great, great time every Tuesday,” volunteer Joe Fisher said. “We get a lot of people coming each week.”
The event began years ago at the Oakland County Mental Health Center but the group eventually outgrew those surroundings. After starting out with around 30 people, the events now welcome between 150 and 250 people on a given week.
“We just grew and grew and grew. After we outgrew the Center the Knights of Columbus were gracious enough to allow us to use the building free of charge. All we have to do is clean up afterwards,” Fisher said.
The group has been at the Knights of Columbus building for approximately 13 years.
There are numerous theme events throughout the year, with Sept. 23 being their anniversary party. Also planned for the year is a Halloween Party (Oct. 28) and a Christmas Party (Dec. 16.)
Admission for the event is a $3 donation. That money, along with donations from different organizations, goes to the purchase of food and decorations for the events. But the event mostly runs on the efforts of volunteers.
“A lot of the volunteers bring their kids but some just come to help out and give something back to the community,” Fisher said.
There is a live local band every Tuesday and the dance floor is always jammed. On Sept. 23, the guests hit the dance floor to enjoy the musical stylings of “Otis and the Elevators.”
“Everybody seems to enjoy themselves. We never hear a negative comment about the event,” Fisher said. “We have a lot of people dancing and a lot of people laughing.”
The events take place on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.