A Night for the People Who Make It Happen
If you had wandered past Tipp City Pizza on the evening of April 1st, you might have thought it was just another fun night downtown. Laughter spilled out the doors, music hummed through the air, and there was the kind of energy that makes you smile without even knowing why.
But this night was something more.
It was the first time we, as the Downtown Tipp City Partnership, hosted an event solely to celebrate the people who make everything we do possible: our volunteers. We called it No Joke, We Love Volunteers, and we meant every word.
The idea for this event had been quietly growing for a while. As the Executive Director of DTCP, one of the best parts of my job is the people I get to meet. Kind, creative, hard-working people who give their time to make our downtown shine. From planting flowers in the spring to planning holiday home tours in the winter, from organizing events to showing up on early mornings with coffee in hand, our volunteers are the heartbeat of this organization.
And yet, we had never hosted a true celebration just for them. That needed to change.
So on April Fool’s Day, because let’s be honest, it was the perfect play on words, we threw open the doors, turned up the music, and made space for joy.
About 70 people came through that night. It was relaxed, casual, and full of the kind of conversations that make you feel like you belong. Volunteers sat side by side, some meeting for the first time, others sharing stories from past events. The vibe was effortless. Just people enjoying each other’s company, surrounded by warmth, laughter, and good food.
A fun feature of the night was a putting challenge just for the occasion. Guests could take a shot at beating me on the green, and if they did, they earned themselves a free raffle ticket. What made it even better was how many people started with, “Oh, I’m terrible at this,” only to surprise themselves with a hole-in-one. I loved watching that moment when someone who didn’t think they could do it stepped up and proved themselves wrong. A surprising number of hole-in-ones happened, and I was happy to lose every time.
Let’s talk about those raffles! We had 25 in total, donated by our amazing Friends of Downtown. These baskets weren’t just generous, they were stunning. Thoughtfully curated collections filled with everything from spa night goodies to vacation travel essentials. The matte black KitchenAid mixer, donated by Mauk Cabinets by Design, was definitely the showstopper. You could hear people not quietly hoping their name would be called.
The entire night felt like a reflection of what DTCP is all about: community, connection, and a little bit of magic.
And speaking of magic, the band, Reflektion, absolutely delivered. Their music set the perfect tone, carrying us from check-in to final raffle with a mix of energy, soul, and rhythm that made the space feel even more alive.
Of course, I can’t say thank you enough to Tipp City Pizza, who closed for the evening so we could host this event. Their support and hospitality are exactly why Tipp City is so special.
We’ll do it again next year. That much I know.
But this first one? It was something I’ll always remember.
If you’ve ever volunteered for DTCP, thank you. And if you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll consider joining us.
Because behind every downtown moment, from flower planting to home tours to event-day magic, is someone who simply said, “Sure, I can help with that.”
And that’s the real story of this place.
– Tasha
Related Posts
Downtown Tipp City Partnership
Our Sister Organizations
