Club HUG
HUG friends know how to have a grand time at any event, but Club HUG may have stolen the show as THE event to beat. What made this event so special? Well, the fabulous music and dancing, light bites and mocktails, bling and mingling certainly didn’t hurt…. but there’s more to it than that.
If you haven’t noticed, or haven’t been ‘out on the town’ in a while, nightclubs are often exclusive and rarely inclusive… until now.
Club HUG was a nightclub experience that was sensory friendly, remarkably inclusive, and a total hit for all of our HUG friends and their families. More than 100 friends came out dressed to the nines and ready to let loose, express themselves, and socialize like never before.
As guests rolled in, their jaws immediately dropped at the sight of HUG’s bling station and hors d’oeuvres. Every guest had the chance to put on glamorous accessories and enjoy some tasty fuel for the hours of dancing ahead.
There was no shortage of entertainment accompanying the dance floor all night long. HUG-favorite, Razzmatazz, performed his Vegas-style show outside the nightclub space where guests were seated, engaged, and laughing for his 40-minute set that was interactive and inclusive. Razzmatazz, a ventriloquist comedy act with his larger-than-life puppet sidekicks, turned big smiles into even bigger ones.
Many HUG friends prepped their walks to strut down the red carpet (velvet rope and all) to enter Club HUG. The rest took over the photo booth, posing on the red carpet in front of an iconic backdrop, capturing memories that would last a lifetime. Every HUG friend looked , award-show ready and had an experience that was as much for them and their family as it was for everyone.
Once everyone was inside, DJ Ash came over the speaker and cranked tunes that had every member of the crowd on their feet.
There were two sides to the rainbow-lit dance floor – one loud and boisterous for all the moves to be busted out, and one quieter for a break from the noise and the disco ball’s brilliance if and when needed. Two friends, Max and Brandon, went all out in their best Michael Jackson fashion, grooving to the party songs that DJ Ash played, requesting MJ tunes in between. The hype was real, and the energy was infectious. We felt it, the volunteers felt it, and, most importantly, the HUG friends felt it.
Connections and conversation were flowing just as much as the sparkling sodas! From necklaces and bowties to crowns and hats, everything sparkled; including the eyes of every individual who got their picture taken, strutted around and showed off their style, snacked on appetizers and desserts, sipped on a Rainbow Rockstar mocktail, and had fun on the dance floors.
Just like any traditional nightclub, Club HUG eventually had to close its doors for the night. As everyone exited back across the red carpet to head home, they were bubbling with adrenaline and excitement, exchanging stories of silly moments with friends from the night.
While the events of the evening wound down, reminders of the importance of inclusive spaces for all shined brighter than ever. Club HUG was the type of experience that every adult should have the opportunity to enjoy, and what an experience it was!
Written by Sarah Bryan
