Old Taylor High invites the public to get loud and gaudy for the Holidays.
From 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. at Old Taylor High, 410 W. Seventh Street in Taylor visitors are encouraged to don their tackiest holiday garb for a Loud & Gaudy Ugly Sweater Party and teddy bear drive.
There will be games, music, sweets, crafts, plus a contest with prizes for the ugliest, most creative, most festive, cutest, funniest and best couple sweaters.
More than a dozen OTH businesses will be participating, including Wilco Art Lab, with a free ornament making station, the Pi Shoppe, which is offering a free letter to Santa station, the Loose Screw, with live music and seasonal craft beer, Class Act Salon with tinsel and temporary tattoos, Rolando’s Tacos, with abuelita hot chocolate, churros and free candy, Plowman’s Kitchen with festive holiday cupcake decorating, and much more.
But the focus of the party is not just on having fun, said Wilco Art Lab’s founder Shay Jung, the party’s organizer. “When I was a kid, my mom was known by the police, but in a poor way, and we had several interactions in any given year with police,” Jung recalled. “Coming to the house or traffic stops or the officers responding to our call, when I or other children were there, they would have teddy bears in their trunk that they would give to us.”
Jung said prior to the party there will be large, labeled bins for the teddy bear drive. In addition, participants who bring a teddy bear to donate will be eligible for a raffle drawing.
“I am trying to figure out what things from my childhood positively impacted negative situations and where I can do that type of good in the community,” Jung said. “So when I was thinking about an ugly sweater party, it was so frivolous and fun and just happy but I figured a way that I could make it feel really impactful to me was to do this drive.”
“Having a little gift of comfort during a confusing or traumatic event can have a positive impact on a child’s life,” Jung added.
