All manner of guests gathered at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary on Saturday, December 16 for a truly historic event: the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority’s 40th Anniversary Celebration & Holiday Party.
For 40 years, the South Shore CVA has helped bring recognition and prosperity to Northwest Indiana. The South Shore CVA found there was no better way to celebrate this incredible feat than by inviting some of its key supporters and partners out for a night of celebration and gratitude.
“Tonight is all about coming together with our partners, all the people who have positively supported us, and our dedicated staff to say thank you for being a part of something bigger than all of us. Every year we continue to have a greater undertaking, and our partners, team and the community are always so supportive. We want to say Merry Christmas to all of them and we look forward to a great 2024,” said David Uran, president and CEO of the South Shore CVA.
What made the event particularly exciting, though, was the South Shore CVA’s decision to pair its 40th-anniversary celebration with the 40th anniversary of the nostalgic Region-inspired film “A Christmas Story.” Several of the movie's beloved actors came out to the Region for the weekend to support the South Shore CVA and its mission resulting in a huge boost for the local economy — over 7,000 fans flooded into Hammond from all across the country.
“The South Shore CVA is all about promoting the Region and getting people to come here, and the movie ‘A Christmas Story’ has been promoting the Region for 40 years. It’s been great having the cast here and helping bring in more people who can spend money in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, and support our local businesses. It’s putting tax dollars right back into our community,” said Andy Qunell, chairman of the South Shore CVA board.
The cast members of “A Christmas Story” were thrilled to make a significant impact and give back to the community where it all began.
“Being here is a wake-up call—it reminds me that this is where the heart is. Hammond is the birthplace of ‘A Christmas Story.’ The whole story revolves around Hammond and its people, so getting to come here and help build the community monetarily and boost community pride means a lot. These people have poured so much of their time and energy into loving this film and it’s our responsibility to give back to them,” said Yano Anaya, the actor who plays Grover Dill in “A Christmas Story.”
The night offered an array of fun activities, including a photo booth featuring a life-sized balloon replica of Nightmare Bunny Ralphie and a Family Feud-style game where the cast of “A Christmas Story” and the South Shore CVA staff competed head-to-head. It was ultimately a great opportunity for community members to let loose and celebrate their connection with “A Christmas Story.”
“This weekend I saw more nightmare bunny suits than I've ever seen before,” said Stephanie Smith, communications and social media manager for the South Shore CVA. “Every other person was in a pink bunny suit! It was great seeing so many people come out. I met people who said they went to high school with Jean Shepherd, or that they lived in the same neighborhood or on the same block as him. Everyone has their own way of relating to the movie, which is really cool.”
Lastly, the event also did a great job of bolstering community pride. Between showing thousands of individuals what Northwest Indiana is all about and giving community members to come together and recognize their successes, the event left everyone feeling thrilled to live in such a thriving part of Indiana.
“During the pandemic, people couldn't get together in groups to celebrate and socialize," said Matt Schuffert, president of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. “Lake County and the Northwest Indiana Region are such diverse parts of the country in many different ways. Any opportunity where you get to bring all those diverse perspectives and people together to celebrate great anniversaries like this at a great venue, that just solidifies what Northwest Indiana is all about.”
Ultimately, the South Shore CVA’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Holiday Party was a night of fellowship, gratitude and prosperity. It strengthened the community in a way that can only happen when people unite with a common goal. The South Shore CVA is committed to bringing even more affluence to the Region in years to come and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
To learn more about the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, visit www.southshorecva.com.