Montgomery to host snow and sledding party on Saturday
The city of Montgomery is holding its first-ever snow party event on Saturday, which will be bringing snow and live entertainment to the historic downtown area. The event will be taking place on the same day as Christmas in Montgomery from noon to 5 p.m. at 777 Clepper Drive across from Fernland Historical Park, which is only a few-minute walk away from downtown.
City administrator Richard Tramm said the city is hosting this event in order to expand offerings during the day to appeal to families of younger children. He noted that other events going on in the city that day mainly appeal to adults and older children.
“This helps to broaden the appeal for what’s going on the whole day,” he said.
The outdoor event will not only include truckloads of snow, but also a hill for sledding and a play area for smaller children. Ice Express is the name of the company responsible for generating the snow for the event. The snow party will also feature a local DJ to entertain the crowd. Montgomery’s very own DJ Kevin Smith will be playing holiday music and hosting a game of trivia with gift card prizes throughout the party.
“I’m looking forward to having fun with the parents and assuming a different persona for each of the songs,” Smith said.
He said he is also excited to see kids play on the snow hill — which is something they don’t normally experience in Texas.
The Michigan native said he is also looking forward to sledding, which was an activity he grew up around. Hot chocolate and coffee will be for sale at a hot beverage and bakery food truck parked nearby in accordance with the winter theme. The event is also free to the public to attend — there is no cost to participate in any of the snow activities. Tramm said he hopes the event will be popular enough this year for it to become an annual event in the future. He said he thinks the party will add to the overall holiday atmosphere in the area.
“We’re hoping to provide an outlet for fun and enjoyment and for people to get in the Christmas spirit with the other events that day,” he said.
Montgomery DJ ‘Kevi Kev’ doesn’t miss a beat Noor Adatia, Staff writer Oct. 28, 2021
DJ Kevin Smith makes announcements during the City of Montgomery's Summer Water Party, Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Montgomery. The city hopes to host this event annually, as they started in 2019 but were unable to in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local 62-year-old DJ Kevin Smith — otherwise known by his stage name “DJ Kevi Kev” — gets as excited for his next gig as he did for his first one around 45 years ago.
“It makes me feel proud that people are entrusting their party to me and the fact that they’re having so much fun,” Smith said.
Smith’s love and passion for music led him to pursuing DJing as a hobby many years ago. Now retired in a Montgomery neighborhood with his wife, the entertainer is continuing to pursue his lifelong interest, which he says “pays for itself.”
After a brief stint in the broadcast industry, Smith worked in the marketing department at General Motors in Detroit for the majority of his career. Missing the pressure and excitement he felt while doing live news, he started DJing at graduations and birthday parties on the side in addition to working an 8-5 job.
“I needed that part of my personality fulfilled, and that’s where the DJing came in,” he said.
While Smith might now be at retirement age, he is far from being a stereotypical, older DJ. Known for his energy and enthusiastic interactions with guests at parties, Smith is often spotted wearing quirky hats and holding an inflatable guitar.
Evolving business As a teenager, Smith tried learning how to play the guitar, but after several lessons, didn’t make much progress in mastering the instrument. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing musical performance — disco music was at its peak in the 1970s and DJ’s were in great demand.
At 17, Smith took on his first gig as a DJ for a boat club in South Bend, Ind., which was a three hour drive from his hometown in Flint, Mich.
In 1977, music was nowhere near how it is played now, which for the most part is digitized. Cassettes were widely used to record and listen to music in the 1970s. Thirty years later, the DJ has adapted to various musical formats, from playing cassette tapes to mini discs to CD’s and now to clicking on MP3 files from a laptop.
Smith tries his best to not rely on streaming music at parties and instead has developed an extensive musical library of his own. He has recorded every song that has reached the top 100 for each year since 1955.
He only records the original version of songs, which he describes as the “pristine version,” so that people can hear music exactly like they first heard it. If there is explicit language in a song, he creates a clean version of it.
“I just kind of play the music just kind of do it the way the artist intended,” he said, “the way that the person remembers the song. I don’t like to put, you know, a big horn in the middle of it, or explosions.”
For him, music is a universal language, and he appreciates the nostalgia that it can bring for people.
“I love how music will take you in three minutes right back to where you were, the smells, who you were with when you heard that song ... it’s just instant memories.”
For these reasons, Smith keeps original files of music and avoids scratching, which is a common practice used by DJ’s that involves moving a vinyl record back and forth. Having a library on deck also enables him to interact more with his guests instead of focusing on mixing music.
Wigs and hats Ever since he started DJing for Montgomery and surrounding communities two years ago, people — including city officials — have taken note of Smith’s distinctive DJing style.
During performances on stage, he wears a variety of hats, wigs and costumes, which he thinks helps to break the ice with guests. When he plays music by KISS, he even wears a Gene Simmons mask and puts on a new persona.
“If they’re a little self conscious to get up and dance, they can look at this DJ being kind of silly… wearing a purple Katy Perry wig with an inflatable keyboard,” Smith said. “If he can be silly, I can join in and be silly too.”
Smith also encourages guests to text him their song requests and often engages adults in the crowd with a game of trivia. He also doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to current music trends and constantly refreshes his library from songs on Billboard charts.
Jeff Waddell, who works with Smith to set up the stage and put on lighting during the shows, said that Smith’s “unique brand” along with his combination of costumes and trivia “helps bring people together.”
Waddell, who is also retired, said the opportunity to work alongside a DJ for the past six months has caused him to have a newfound appreciation for music. During events, he sees how Smith is able to connect with people through the music he plays.
“I feel he’s a good person that means well and that he is trying to do good things for the area,” Waddell, 67, said of his friend.
Smith and his wife, Renée, moved down from Michigan to Texas in 2019 to retire and be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. The city has provided much more than just 80 degree weather in October for the retired couple; it is now a place they call home.
“I was born and raised in Texas — it just took me 62 years to get here,” he said.
Smith said he is thankful for the number of festivals the city holds throughout the year, which allows him to DJ frequently. His next gig is for the city’s Hallloween event this Saturday.
“I started at 17, and I’m nowhere near the same level as the Stones, but if they can still be rocking into their 70s and 80s, there’s still hope for this old guy.”
Montgomery hosts annual trick or treat event Saturday Noor Adatia, Staff writer Oct. 25, 2021
People attend the Montgomery Fall Festival in historic downtown Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in Montgomery.
Montgomery’s fourth annual trick or treat event will feature a DJ and a costume contest for Halloween.
The event, which brings thousands to downtown and into the nearby shops and restaurants, is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
More than 3,000 kids and their parents attended the trick or treat event in 2020, which was slightly modified due to COVID-19. For this year’s event, more than 35 business are expected to participate.
Rebecca Huss, president of the Montgomery Economic Development Corp., which is sponsoring the event, said it has gotten only bigger and grown each year since it started in 2018.
“It grows organically every year,” Huss said. “We’re just amazed every year.”
Huss was responsible for putting together a map of participating historic Montgomery businesses for trick or treaters to use. The map also lists some of the activities some shops are hosting.
The city will be hosting DJ Kevin Smith, who will be playing music at the downtown bandstand and giving away prizes including gift certificates in a trivia game for parents.
Smith, who has been DJing for 45 years, said he is excited to be doing so for Montgomery. During the COVID-19 initial lockdown, he hosted socially-distanced block parties, and after city officials saw how he engaged the community, invited him to do the Halloween event.
“I’m a DJ made for this sort of event,” Smith said. “It warms my heart to see everybody.”
Smith also said he appreciates the “hometown feel” of the city. When he and his wife moved from the state of Michigan down to Montgomery two years ago, they felt they were at home.
Smith describes himself as an interactive and high-energy DJ who doesn’t take himself too seriously. He usually carries an inflatable guitar at his gigs.
“I hope they have as much fun as I do. I love music and would do it for two people, but to be able to do it for the city is quite an honor.”
And the fun isn’t just meant for people. Petz and dog grooming store K9 Kuts encourage people to bring their costumed pets in for a treat. A few other businesses will be offering to take photos of families.
The MEDC also hired the Montgomery Police Department this year to provide security at the event, including making sure children cross the road safely.
Huss said that this event is an example of the MEDC’s mission to provide quality of life to the city and its residents.
“You can’t go there without feeling the joy of what the kids are feeling and looking at the parents and their smiles,” she said. “This is exactly a part of the MEDC’s mission.”
