The Original Smiley Face Celebrates with the 14th Annual Harvey Ball & World Smile Day®
Harvey Ball’s Smiley Face is 50 and still looks fantastic. The icon is the international symbol of happiness and kindness. Worcester and the world will commemorate the occasion with the 14th Annual Harvey Ball on Thursday, October 2nd, and World Smile Day® on Friday, October 3rd.
“We are proud to celebrate Harvey Ball’s creation of such an important international icon,” said Bill Wallace, executive director, Worcester Historical Museum. “Worcester is the birthplace of Smiley Face. We want to unite everyone on World Smile Day®. It was Harvey’s dream to share a smile with the world.”
The 2014 Harvey Ball Smile Award recipient is the son of the artist, Charles P. Ball. The event is at the Worcester Historical Museum from 6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., and tickets are $64 per person. Cocktails, dinner, dessert and live and silent auctions. Attendees are encouraged to dress in ‘60s attire with prizes awarded to the hippest, hippest couple, flower child, mod, member of the silent majority or a ‘60s celebrity. DJ Pandaphonic will spin some period vinyl for dancing.
Harvey Ball established World Smile Day® to be the first Friday in October. “My father created World Smile Day® to remind people to be positive and optimistic,” said Charles P. Ball. “He believed Smiley connected the world to practice kindness, and share a smile. It is an icon that translates through languages and cultures, and is world renowned. Smiley should be celebrated on this important 50th anniversary.”
The motto Harvey Ball created is: “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile!” World Smile Day® kicks off on Friday, October 3rd at 8:45 a.m. with Smiley Face opening the door of the Worcester Public Library. The act of kindness this year is focused on literacy. Reach out and read: to children, to seniors, to everyone.
For more information or reservations regarding the 14th Annual Harvey Ball and World Smile Day visit: www.worcesterhistory.org.or call 508-753-8278.