Happy Holidays from Matt Dibrindisi Entertainment
December 31st, 2025
Dear Friends and Family,
I’ll be honest… (And when I start a post like this, you know it can’t be all that good) I can’t put it lightly- 2025 was an absolute battlefield and our fifth anniversary wasn’t everything we hoped it would be. I continue to suffer from (I don’t say “battle” anymore) severe trauma-induced depression, as I have now for eleven years, and while no one should have to justify their limitations and disabilities, one phrase that makes sense of it that I’ve clung to for many months is “you can’t pour from an empty cup”; how can you give to others in your community if there’s nothing inside you to begin with? How do you fix that? For a start, I had to remember what fills MY cup: I’ve realized that everything I want to see in the world… doesn’t exist yet; it never has. I realize I have a brain about to burst with thousands of ideas and I’m just about starving for them. Pulling them out of my head and into reality is absolutely necessary for my health and wellbeing and I’m sure there are tons of people that need what we create as well.
Still, there were many positives, new and old, and many reminders of exactly what we strive to do and what we stand for: providing happiness and wellbeing to low-income families and communities in need.
Our year officially began not in January, but on March 14th (unfortunately past our actual fifth anniversary) with our first-ever YouTube special, full of interviews, sketches, trivia and upcoming looks at some of this year’s events. The special was my first time speaking on camera for a company project and I’m glad I didn’t sound as awful as I’d have thought.
On April 22nd, we tried our hand at branching out with Pepperoni’s first-ever appearance OUTSIDE of Hampshire County at Magic Wings> in South Deerfield for Earth Day. While it wasn’t as successful as we’d hoped, I know it was worth taking a risk. We’ll certainly keep trying to expand throughout western Massachusetts throughout 2026.
September 20th marked our second time in Northampton Neighbors’ DoozyDo Parade, this time promoting our Dark of Fright Halloween Party in October and we were raring to join *their* party in the street. There’s nothing like lining up downtown and taking stock of all the wild and wonderful groups around us. You never know what you’ll see any given year. Our lingering audio issues had finally been fixed and we cranked up our bespoke soundtrack even higher… and it worked! I was later told that kids were calling Pepperoni’s name even before they saw his name on our banners. Pepperoni is well on his way to becoming a local celebrity. I just hope his purple coattails are big enough for me to ride on next year…
Our second/now annual Dark of Fright Halloween Party came back with a vengeance on October 26th with new games, amazing feats from our favorite performers Joe Goldin and Eric Koloski, incredible cupcakes designed by Alysia and her team at Carefree Cakery featuring edible art by Justin Greenly and YinYangGio and brand-new theatrical opening and closing sketches featuring Pepperoni and I. Northampton Center for the Arts at 33 Hawley was transformed into the castle of the late, great Marvelous Mortelli and unbeknownst to our guests… it was haunted. Did our freaky festivities please the master of the house? I sure hope so, and I look forward to many more DOFs to come. You’re all invited.
We closed out the year as we have three times before, as a grateful participant in the Florence Holiday Parade. With a brand-new soundtrack and Pepperoni stickers to spare, we were armed and ready to ring in the holidays the best way we know how. Once again, our hometown was absolutely delighted to see my friend, the Purple People Pleaser. We even got our now-annual photo with the Man in Red himself, Santa Claus! Very grateful that he was able to fit us in his busy schedule.
Even in a year ruled by dark forces and suffering, there are highlights, not as some empty platitude, but through my and the company’s dedication to creating places of joy for everyone in need of some. Happiness and wellbeing must not only not be lost, but a guarantee that there will always be light for those looking for it. I hope you had a safe and healthy holiday season and hope you have many things to look forward to in the new year. If not, I’ll make sure we create some for you.
P.S. I’m not the best at deadline promises, but I’ll try my best to see you very soon in January. There’s a whole lot coming that I know you won’t be expecting… get ready for new tricks.
Warmest regards,
Matt Dibrindisi
Principal Creative at Matt Dibrindisi Entertainment