Skies, fireflies in synch for Friday Night Lights

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on July 10, 2016

Attendees at Friday Night Lights on Friday, July 8, settle in at the ChesLen Preserve for an evening of entertainment to benefit Natural Lands Trust.

Despite dire forecasts, Mother Nature wisely provided perfect weather for the Sixth Annual Friday Night Lights on July 8, possibly realizing that it would have been cruel to sabotage a fundraiser for Natural Lands Trust, an organization that works tirelessly to protect her.

Ben Arnolds rock the crowds at Friday Night Lights, a fundraiser for Natural Lands Trust. — Ben Arnold rocks the crowd at Friday Night Lights, a fundraiser for Natural Lands Trust.

Addressing a sellout crowd of 700, Molly K. Morrison, NLT’s president and CEO, noted that the mission of the trust is to ensure that beautiful properties like the 1,263-acre ChesLen Preserve in Newlin Township, the venue for the event, remain undeveloped in perpetuity.

“This is our largest Friday Night Lights to date, and it’s all in support of the conservation work we do,” she said.

Morrison added that during the trust’s 63 years, it has enabled 2½ million people to live within five miles of its protected land. “We’re pretty proud of that fact,” she said, eliciting applause and setting the stage for an evening of entertainment.

An array of telescopes enabled viewers to see details on Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the moon. — An array of telescopes enables viewers to see details on Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the moon.

She invited attendees to sample a new brew from “the official beer company of Natural Lands Trust.” The Victory Brewing Company, which takes pride in its many sustainability initiatives, crafted Firefly, a limited-edition ale flavored with a hint of mountain mint and juniper berry especially for Friday Night Lights, Morrison said.

And for those who preferred wine, Borderland Vineyard from Landenberg was on hand to satisfy those tastes.

Oliver P. Bass, NLT’s vice president of communications and engagement, pointed out that the two outstanding bands who would be entertaining the crowd were also locally based: Johnny Miles & the Waywards and Ben Arnold.

Johnny Miles & the Waywards entertain the audience on Friday night at the ChesLen Preserve.

As the sun set behind the bandstand, guests spread out for an evening of music, conviviality and libations, using straw bales as tables. When darkness set in, many took advantage of an array of nearly 20 telescopes set up a short distance away.

Members of the ChesMont Astronomical Society, Chester County Astronomical Society, and Delaware Astronomical Society graciously adjusted their equipment for each viewer. The results prompted nonstop oohs and ahs as Saturn and its rings, Jupiter and its moons, Mars, and Earth’s moon came into view.

Across the expansive fields, fireflies put on a show, and a couple of bonfires encouraged attendees to stop and toast marshmallows.

Bass said the staff looks forward to the event each year. “It’s really more of a friend-raiser,” he said.