<br/>Like any small town, there are many events celebrated throughout the year that help bring the townsfolk of Elliquiy together and helps to foster that close community that it is famous for. Of the four major events, none is perhaps quite so controversial amongst the residents as Elliquiy’s annual Valentine’s Day celebration – Love in the Park.<br/><br/>Perhaps the best way to describe the Love in the Park event would be to listen to John Paul Young’s 1978 disco classic ‘Love is in the air’. For indeed, love is in the very air the townsfolk breathe and while some resent the inherent invasion of privacy, most residents cannot help but ask a lot of questions. Who will be attending as couples? Who might become couples during the event? Who might have a secret admirer? Who will be the surprise romance of the event? Who will be so unlucky as to not find love on a day devoted to its celebration?<br/><br/>Much to the dismay of those who hold little hope of finding love, some eager townsfolk begin decorating from the start of February. Suffice to say, by the time February the 14th dawns the town is prepared for the annual event. Everywhere an Elliquiyan might look, there are reminders of this celebration of love. From the trees hang streamers of red, pink and white interspersed with heart-shaped decorations. Event posters highlighting the main attractions of the event are carefully taped to lamp posts. In most of the shop windows, cards in the shape of hearts can be seen pressed against the glass.<br/><br/>Perhaps the most startling of changes takes place in the park during the morning of the fourteenth. A stage is erected to play host first to the traditional, and charitable, bachelor and bachelorette auction and later for musical entertainments. Long tables are covered in red, white and pink cloths, decorated with heart motifs. Upon these tables appear plates and platters bearing sweet treats prepared throughout the day by the incomparably talented Isabelle of Elliquiy’s own Argent Bakery and Café. Other tables bear the victuals and beverages provided by other members of the community. The beer tent, provided by Sebastian of the Fisherman’s Net, is carefully guarded to curtail the mandatory attempts by the teenage residents of the town to get their hands on the alcohol.<br/><br/>With most business’ treating the day as an annual half-day holiday, a lot of places close around midday. This means that the majority of the town’s residents are recharged and refreshed by the time the event is opened at 3pm, with the greeting speech as traditionally delivered by the Mayor of Elliquiy. Once Molly Roth declares the event open, townsfolk are given free range of the park, to socialize and relax amid the festive air. A festive air helped in no small part by the presence of many heat lamps to offset the chilly temperatures of February in Oregon. The first sub-event takes place at 5pm, with the Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction. With all proceeds going to charity, this is a fun opportunity to do some good in the world, help promote the town and acquire a date for the rest of the event.<br/><br/>(http://www.artificialweddingbouquets.com.au/images/bouquets/resized/Hanging_hearts_005.jpg) (http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ohdeedoh/2009-01-20-hearts.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c8f0053ef01676260b2e3970b-650wi) (https://hsl.osu.edu/sites/hsl.osu.edu/files/styles/medium/public/tumblr_mhjqagM6JI1rqb6quo1_500.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://thegirlthegay.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/img_0546.jpg)