Days Into Night To Raise Funds For Taylors Youth Association

Want to go?

What: Days Into Night fundraiser for Taylors Youth Association

Where: Greenville Hilton, 45 West Orchard Park Drive, Greenville

When: 80s-themed karaoke dance party at 8 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's events include a cast party at 11 a.m., an autograph session at 2:30 p.m. and a dance party at 8 p.m.

Price: Tickets range in price from $10-$200, depending on what events you choose to attend.

For more information: Call 444-2098 or visit www.daysintonight.com

Cue the music and watch the sands of time drain through an hourglass, as Taylors Youth Association says farewell to the cast of "Days of Our Lives."

After 25 years of bringing cast members from the popular daytime soap opera to Greenville, Taylors Youth Association has decided this years' "Days Into Night" event will be the last.

"It's run its course," said Janet Newman, a volunteer with the youth association. "This event takes about nine months to plan. The youth association has grown and it's time to take a new direction."

Newman said the event is planned solely by volunteers of the youth association, who also spend 50 to 60 hours each week to make sure the youth organization stays up and running.

"We've made a lot of good friends doing this event and we are hoping for one final hurrah," Newman said.

"Days" cast members expected to attend this year's event include: Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe Lane), Shawn Christian (Dr. Daniel Jonas), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera), Bren Foster (Quinn) and Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas).

An 80s-themed karaoke party is planned for Friday. Why the '80s? Because that's when this party got started.

In 1985 the Taylors Youth Association, formerly known as Taylors Football League, was facing insurmountable debts and was at-risk of closing its doors, according to the club's website.

Proud board members and parents took a stand, because they couldn't disappoint the kids in the league. They were working to find a way to raise money, when someone suggested a Celebrity Softball Game.

It would be the first year the Salem Sluggers came to town to take on local celebrities and become a yearly rivalry where the locals were never picked to win.

In 2006, Newman said they did away with the game because it was too hot outside and those who bought tickets for the weekend, rarely attended the game.

Instead they turned it into a party, where fans could feel free to mingle with celebrities, take pictures and get autographs, she said.

This weekend, fans can participate in a silent auction during Saturday afternoon's cast party before dancing the night away with the stars, Newman said.

"We've got a loyal fan base, many who have been coming for 25 years," Newman said. "I would say 10 percent come to see the stars and the other 90 percent to see each other. It's a lot of fun to see it all come together and see fans having a good time."