Love Island star will join fans in Power & Light for ‘Villa Night’ watch party
The Love Island Villa is coming to KC this week with a watch party at Kansas City Live! with a special guest, a star from a past season of the popular reality TV show.
The “Villa Night” event starts at 7 p.m. and is free and for all ages. The new episode of Love Island USA will be shown at 8 p.m. on the 40-foot screen in the Power & Light District.
Jeremiah Brown, a contestant on season 7 of the show, which aired last summer, will be at the screening. There will also be a DJ for entertainment before and after the episode airs.
Season 8 of Love Island USA aired last week on June 2, with multiple new episodes coming out every week.
The show brings 12 contestants to an isolated island in Fiji to try to find love and potentially win $100,000. For six weeks, candidates are coupled up to compete in challenges and games, attempting not to get voted off the island by viewers.
With five episodes out so far and one airing on Monday, KC Live! plans to show the seventh episode.
“We like this idea of bringing people to a more social environment for some of these reality television shows,” said Kyla Bradley, director of marketing at KC Live! “Naturally, because of the drama that comes with Love Island, we wanted to bring a fun fan base together for a great watch party.”
This event is an opportunity for KC Live! to capture the excitement on social media and turn it into business, said Bradley.
“People are just naturally talking about it because either the drama is great or, you know, they’re really fans of the cast members and the talent,” she said.
The Power & Light venue held a similar event last year, and it was well received, said Bradley. So this year they brought it back, leveling it up in partnership with Smirnoff Ice, a liquor and malt beverage company, she said.
The liquor brand is an official partner of Love Island and is hosting “Villa Nights” all over the country. Starting in Nashville, Kansas City is next on the list.
Smirnoff is also inviting Love Island fans to vote on new flavors with “The Fan Edit” campaign. From May 22 until July 22, fans of legal age can vote to pick their four favorite flavors from eight choices: Arctic Berry Freeze blue raspberry flavor, Cherry Cola Chiller, Feelin’ Peachy Pop, Root Beer Dream, Sour Grape Splash, Strawberry Swirl, Fruit Punch Cooler and Watermelon Limeade.
“Having great partners with Smirnoff, and their excitement behind it, and kind of the elements that they’re bringing to the event just makes it unique, and it makes it different than what we’re used to,” said Bradley.
Many of the other locations selected for “Villa Night” are indoor venues, said Bradley. What makes the event at KC Live! different is their open-air space.
“The fun of KC Live! is that you get those outdoor elements, plus just like the massive screens and the entertainment experiences along with it,” said Bradley.
In addition to having themed drinks, the venue has planned a giveaway for five winners to win two tickets to access an exclusive VIP experience at Besos Y Abrazos during the watch party, where fans can meet and take pictures with Brown, along with enjoying free snacks and drinks. The 21+ sweepstakes began on June 1 and ended on June 5.
KC Live! hopes to do more events like this one, depending on the turnout.
“It’s definitely something we’re considering not only for Love Island, but, you know, any of those kind of pop culture reality television shows,” said Bradley. “Who doesn’t love that?”