Downtown Winooski relaunches fundraiser— this time with flare
Image courtesy of Downtown Winooski Instagram
Every Tuesday, Winooskians gather to play bingo at various venues throughout the city, but with a twist. As part of a weekly series started this summer by Downtown Winooski, residents are encouraged to dress up in their fanciest outfits for the occasion — “Blingo.”
The new program brings in business to Winooski restaurants and involves the community in a fun activity, said Melissa Corbin, executive director of Downtown and runner of the game nights. Downtown Winooski is a nonprofit that holds events throughout the city to raise money for the community and encourage business. Corbin said she was brought on board earlier this year to diversify the fundraising methods for the organization, and Blingo is one of those efforts.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, bingo was a popular program in Winooski. But during the height of the pandemic people went away from group activities like that, and even with restrictions gone the hobby didn’t come back in full force Corbin is determined to bring the program back with some “flair.” She said that organizing it took a couple weeks of research, as the National Bingo Association has a lot of rules.
The program’s first venue was Waterworks, the restaurant in the historic mill building on the Winooski River. Restaurant managers have commented that business has spiked since the beginning of the program, Corbin said.
Downtown Winooski receives high social media engagement regarding the Blingo program, and participant numbers have doubled each week, Corbin said. The most impactful part is seeing “everyone smile for two hours straight in their finest attire,” she said.
Each bingo card is $5, and the proceeds are split evenly between the night’s winner and Downtown Winooski. People can score a free bingo card each week, though — the program gives one to the person with the “funkiest flair” on a given night.
The program will run for as long as restaurants and other venues are willing to host and people want to play, Corbin said.