T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Bellaire Clerk of Council Mary Hagiloizou presents a letter from an elementary school teacher that the council discusses.

BELLAIRE — Bellaire Village Council discussed a letter sent from a Bellaire Elementary School teacher to hold a tailgate celebration in honor of the football team’s first season at Nelson Field under the new lights during Thursday evening’s meeting.

Clerk of Council Mary Hagiloizou read a letter from second grade teacher Taylor Price, who graduated from Bellaire High School in the class of 2016.

Price expressed her excitement for the first football season featuring night games at Nelson Field. In the letter, Price wrote, “This is such a big experience for our town. As soon as the 2024-2025 football schedule was released I knew we had to celebrate together as a community.”

Hagiloizou discussed from the letter that Price mentioned Derrick McAfee, superintendent of Bellaire schools, is on board with the celebration.

The celebration would consist of a community tailgate from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Aug. 23. Vendors would be set up at 2 p.m. in the village parking lot.

Vendors, Bellaire businesses, food trucks, face painting, inflatables, cheerleaders, football moms performance and more would take place at the celebration.

The 32nd Street parking lot is the location proposed, as it is within walking distance from the field to watch the parade.

The Big Reds face off against the Buckeye Local Panthers for Bellaire’s first home game of the season — and the first night game ever to be played at Nelson Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Hagiloizou mentioned that Price has already been in contact with the Ohio Valley Farmers Market, and the Friday celebration would not interfere with anything the market is doing that Saturday.

A council member did raise a concern for the rental spots that people have in that location, but Mayor Edward Marling said the village will check on that.

Council discussed whether the date of the celebration would work because the football game is potentially being moved to Thursday, Aug. 22, but decided to determine what the actual dates will be and approved both dates for the celebration and football game.

All council members voted to approve both dates.