A Harvey Family Christmas, December 16, 2022
The sold-out Hark at the Park show at McMinnville’s Park Theater was a sensational event on many levels. The Harvey Family Christmas celebrated its 14th consecutive year with a variety of songs that Ed Sullivan would have envied. The exclamation point of the event’s success was raising over $20,000 for the Hamilton Street Activity Center and The Magness Library.
The event has grown from an intimate show in the upper level of Magness Library in 2009 to a full capacity crowd at the renovated Park Theater in 2022. McMinnville has embraced the show as an authentic Christmas tradition. Former city and county mayor Jimmy Haley expressed a common sentiment about the event, “I think between the Harvey family and the library, it brings joy to people’s hearts. It allows everyone to come together and celebrate everything that is the spirit of Christmas.”
One of the highlights of the night was a tribute to the revered Maxine Weeden, who sadly passed away this past November. Maxine had appeared at the Harvey Christmas show in both venues over the years. An ensemble of singers and musicians paid tribute to Maxine by singing a song that she often performed at the event, “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child.”
The music ranged from traditional hymns, jazz, country, hip hop, gospel, and rock and roll. And that list doesn’t cover every genre represented in the evening’s 26 songs. Dr. Wally Bigbee read the Robert Frost poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” that was well-received by the crowd. The show included four different children’s dance groups from Hamilton Street. Steve Harvey led a traditional sing-a-long of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Steve’s nephew and manager of the Park Theater, Joe Harvey closed the show with a crowd-cheering rock and roll version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” which included an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
Hark at the Park stands alone as an entertaining show of Christmas music, but it also has an ulterior motive. Steve Harvey created the public event of a Harvey Family Christmas to benefit both The Magness Library and the Hamilton Street Activity Center. The event has exceeded his expectations artistically and financially. The idea for the event was actually born in Alabama at his cousin John’s house. Scott Camp was playing the piano with the family, and Steve thought the music that was being created should be shared with the public in McMinnville. The idea to make it a benefit was a natural step for Steve who has a heart for giving back.
The money raised from Hark at the Park is split evenly between the library and Hamilton Street. Justin Tanner, a member of The Magness Library Board, explained why he became hands-on this year with securing sponsorships. Tanner said, “I have been involved with the library since I moved back to town after college, and this event gets everyone into the Christmas spirit.” Ben Myers the owner of Panther Creek Forestry is a sponsor. Myers said, “I always enjoy the library. Steve (Harvey) has done a great job of engaging people to come out.” Mac McWhirter was chairman of The Magness Library Board for six years, and he and his wife Susan were Silver Bell sponsors this year. McWhirter said, “I love the library and Hamilton Street Activity Center. I love it here and this event.”
After the show, Steve shared why he started the event. He said, “There are a lot of great musicians who were raised in McMinnville and moved away, and people don’t really know that they play anymore. I thought that we needed to get them back and let people hear what they do. That was the start of it. I called it Jazz at the Library. That first show included Mike Chilcutt, Scott Camp, John and Kevin Harvey. They performed jazz music at the first event. After that we started adding singing and new people every year. The variety started at the library. It became difficult for the public to get in at the library, and we moved it over here to the Park Theater. We raised a lot of money this year between ticket sales and sponsors. We will beat $20,000 by a fair amount. I cannot think of two better organizations to donate to than the library and Hamilton Street. They both are important.”
Steve Harvey has created a legacy with the event, and the Park Theater is a perfect home for the Harvey Family Christmas celebration. Steve said that he loosely models the show after the Grand Ole Opry, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony and any event that has a variety of acts. McMinnville can consider Steve Harvey to be its own Garrison Keillor and Hark at the Park to be its own Prairie Home Companion show.
A practical way to thank Steve Harvey for creating and hosting Hark at the Park is to keep The Magness Library and the Hamilton Street Activity Center in your thoughts throughout the year. Another way to show gratitude for the event is to thank and support the sponsors of Hark at the Park. Gold and Silver sponsors are listed below. A review of Hark at the Park would not be complete without mentioning the woman the children of the Hamilton Street Activity Center love and respect, “Mrs. Lady,” Lisa Harvey, Steve’s wife. She has done a tremendous job of caring for the children and supplying tutors, meals, and extracurricular programs. There would not be a Hark at the Park without Lisa Harvey.
PERFORMERS: Dr. Wally Bigbee, Joe Harvey, Ashley Fernandez, Lee Carr, Kevin Harvey, Chuck Jones, Michael McGee, Jason McVey, Lacey Tate and Pennye Tate.
MUSICIANS: Sarah McVey, John Harris, John Harvey, Kevin Harvey, Chuck Jones, Jason McVey and Bo Tomberlin.
Master of Ceremonies, Steve Harvey and his grandson, Bo Tomberline.
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