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The Evenings on Elk MASKquerade event was a success. 
Chastity Thompson, the founder of Project MOVE, praised the turnout and outcome of the event, which took place in downtown Elizabethton last Friday. 
“It went really, just as I had hoped,” beamed Thompson. “The town came together.”
Thompson gushed on how beautiful downtown looked Friday evening. 
“It’s just so beautiful at night with the canopies,” she said. 
She said there were long lines and enthusiastic reactions from attendees, who interacted with characters at the event and activities in general. Among the attractions were food trucks, trick-or-treating, mask decorating, live music, local shops open, booths and more for people to enjoy. 
Happiness and fun were the general attitudes Thompson attributed to attendees. 
“I think everybody was just so ready just to be able to get out again and enjoy and shop,” she said. 
Thompson said the event was also great for supporting the local economy. She explained that with Evenings on Elk, different crowds of people come into town, where they can see local businesses and potentially become new customers, or even investors in property. 
“Evenings on Elk kind of has a strategic purpose,” she said. “Our vision is simple, we want people to see the potential that we do. We want communities to pull together and help create things like that.”
Thompson said that while the event was different from previous Evenings on Elk experiences, it was overall comparable to those, noting that they did the best they could to create a sense of normalcy for attendees. 
On the topic of attendees and guidelines, Thompson praised the respect presented by many who came on Friday. 
“I think Elizabethton set a good example,” she said. “With a little creativity, we can still have events and still bring revenue in. You just have to find a different way by rearranging some things.”
Ideas for an event closer to Christmas is to be decided at the moment. Thompson said planning for next year’s Evenings on Elk is already underway and hopes to be bigger and better. 
To the community, Thompson had a message of gratitude. 
“Thanks to the community for coming out and giving us the opportunity to entertain,” she said. “We hope everyone enjoyed the event as much as we did.”