The Clovis Police Department hosted the 11th Annual Clovis Night on Saturday, October 1 at David McDonald Park on the corner of Sierra and Temperance in Clovis.
Formerly known as Sierra Meadows Park, there seemed to be no problem gathering people as crowds lined up to gather at the big event.
Clovis Police Public Information Officer Ty Wood said the turnout for the event was “fantastic” and explained that the police department wasn’t sure what the turnout would be like.
“We didn’t know what the participation would be like after the Covid. In the past we have had between eight and twelve thousand people present. This is the first full event we’ve had since Covid and we couldn’t be happier with the turnout. Everyone looks like they’re having fun.”
Wood pointed out the fact that the lines at the food booths were quite long, and after that he openly noted that all the money being spent went to the Clovis community, as the booths present at the event they were local groups.
The crowd also gathered in front of a live stage where live music was played until around 7:45 when the start of the drone show began.
The reasoning behind a drone show instead of the usual firework display was multiplied by Ty Wood as he explained: “Some of the concerns, one we’re right next door to the Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center, the pets of the area, they can get very nervous. . . The air quality, the drought, any kind of fire danger — those weren’t necessarily deciding factors, but obviously it doesn’t really help.”
In addition to the obvious dangers of a fireworks display, the Clovis Police Department also chose to give another local business a chance to improve their business acumen at Skye Dreams, a local drone flight business.
Skye Dreams, which completed its second major event, joined more than 100 local and general food vendors for the occasion. This was, of course, in addition to city and police vehicle displays, as well as information booths flanking them, with city employees greeting the crowds that gathered.
“We have 55 local boutique vendors, we have 15 local food vendors, we have free bounce houses for the kids, the Bulldog Blitz Skydivers flew in,” Ty Wood explained of the Night Out demographic. “Thousands of Clovis residents come out every year … it’s an opportunity for the community to interact with us, get behind the scenes.”
The Clovis Night Out lasted from “4 pm until dark” and definitely kept a group of people going until then. Clovis PD was excited to host another successful event in the Clovis community.
