Stars, Strikes and Smiles: A Holiday Bowling Day that Put Inclusion in the Spotlight

A festive lane and an easy promise: fun for everyone

The room felt more like a neighborhood party than a staged charity night. Laughter rose above the clatter of pins. Music mixed with cheers. For a few hours, people who rarely share the same calendar date were side by side — swapping high fives, trading playful jabs about gutter balls and celebrating small wins.

This was the scene at Best Buddies’ holiday bowling event, a seasonal gathering meant to be loud, messy and unmistakably inclusive. The crowd included staff and volunteers, participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities, family members and a handful of public figures who made time to join a game or two. The mood was easy and bright — not about spectacle, but about being together.

A day built around simple, joyful moments

The event flowed like a neighborhood block party adapted for the lanes. Guests checked in, grabbed name tags and were guided to mixed teams so participants and volunteers could play together. Staff organized quick contests: best team cheer, most creative bowling outfit and a “friendly rivalry” between celebrity guests and volunteer teams that drew big laughs.

Music set a relaxed pace. Between frames, a DJ kept things moving with familiar songs that encouraged sing-alongs. Local food vendors and a hot chocolate station made the hall feel warm, and a small silent auction offered items donated by local businesses to raise funds for Best Buddies’ programs.

Not every highlight was on the lanes. One table hosted an arts-and-crafts corner where guests decorated friendship pins. Another space offered quiet seating for anyone who needed a break from the noise — a thoughtful touch that made clear the organizers expected and planned for different comfort levels.

Friendships and small, sharp moments that mattered

At the heart of the day were personal connections. A young woman who’d never bowled before took three practice rolls with a volunteer coach. By her third roll she cheered as two pins fell — a small score, but a big grin. Nearby, a volunteer wiped accidental tears from a man’s cheek after a heartfelt hug from his bowling partner.

Another moment: an older participant who uses a wheelchair took the microphone to thank the crowd for coming. His simple message about feeling seen earned a standing ovation. Celebrity guests made time for photos, but more importantly they sat down, listened and spoke directly with participants — gestures that often meant more than the public-facing photo ops.

Volunteers described the day as revealing how small acts can reshape someone’s sense of belonging. For many families, the event was a rare chance to relax and enjoy an outing without worrying they had to fill the gaps in accessibility or social support themselves.

Best Buddies’ work: programs that aim for everyday change

Best Buddies is a nonprofit focused on one simple truth: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve friendships, jobs and places to live where they are included. The organization runs programs that pair participants with peers for one-on-one friendships, help place people in supportive jobs, and pilot models for inclusive housing and leadership training.

Events like holiday bowling are both social and strategic. They raise money that pays for programs and also showcase how inclusion works in ordinary settings — schools, workplaces and neighborhoods. For many attendees, seeing people connect casually is proof that inclusion doesn’t require special moments; it needs regular, shared activities.

How people can join the next lane

The evening wrapped with several quick announcements: totals raised from the auction, plans for upcoming local chapters and invitations to volunteer at future events. Organizers urged people to sign up for volunteer shifts, join local bowling teams, or simply come to the next open event to meet participants in person.

For those who came, the result was simple and tangible. Money was raised, relationships were started, and for a few hours, a noisy bowling alley became a place where inclusion felt easy and ordinary. That ordinary feeling is what Best Buddies aims for — a community where being together isn’t a special event, it’s the everyday norm.

Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels

Sources

• prnewswire.com