Hundreds of community members filled the Curb Event Center on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for Belmont's annual Community Night, continuing a cherished tradition of neighborhood fellowship and Bruin basketball. The evening featured the Belmont Bruins taking on Northern Iowa State, with the retiring of the #21 jersey donned by men's basketball legend Ian Clark (‘13) at halftime.
The event, hosted by the Office of Community Relations, welcomed guests from local neighborhood organizations, schools, churches and youth and senior groups for an evening of entertainment and community building. Before tip-off, attendees enjoyed complimentary dinner while participating in various activities including face painting and balloon artistry.
"Community Night exemplifies Belmont's commitment to being a good neighbor and creating meaningful connections with our surrounding communities," said Joyce Searcy, director of Community Relations. "Seeing families return year after year, while welcoming new faces to campus, shows the lasting impact of this tradition in bringing people together through sports, entertainment and fellowship."
Since its inception in 2009 with 80 attendees, Community Night has grown into one of Belmont's most anticipated annual events, having welcomed thousands of community members to campus over its 16-year history.
View photos from the event here.
More About Community Night
Community Night was initiated to thank the community for its support of Belmont University. Eighty people from the neighborhoods surrounding Belmont attended the inaugural event. Today, over 1,000 people from youth, senior, church and community groups eagerly look forward to annual family tradition where everyone enjoys a free basketball game with complimentary dinner along with fun and wellness activities like face painting, balloon artistry, photo booth, blood pressure checks, financial information, and voter registration.
Belmont students host the event to serve as role models, to expose youth to college life, and encourage them to further their education. Highlights of the evening are opening and half-time performances children’s choirs, dance and step groups, and high school bands who showcase their talent for audiences who have come out to see them.
