Allie Torto to Perform at Village Appreciation Night

By JoAnn R. Walter —

The fifth annual Village Appreciation Night, scheduled for Friday evening, Oct. 17 at the Tioga County Fairgrounds in Owego, has become a community favorite.

The free event will run from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., and is hosted by the Owego Police Department and its Benevolent Association.

A number of other businesses within and outside the village have stepped up to support the event with generous donations.   

Village Appreciation Night will feature a bonfire, wagon rides, food, face painting, prizes, Touch-A-Truck, live music, and fireworks. Returning again this year, a hot air balloon display will rise to the occasion and complement the many fun activities.

As in past years, Village Appreciation Night features top-notch musical entertainment. This year, two major draws are singer/ songwriter Allie Torto and the band Two Dollar Pistol.

Allie Torto, a native of Broome County, will bring to the evening her impressive style of original music, accompanied by musical artist and guitarist Bradford Allen.

Allie shared that she will also perform a few well-known covers, encompassing several music genres and periods, including pop and soul, modern-day hits, and tunes from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Allie’s newest release, “Memories,” introduced in August, offers lyrics with a positive and uplifting message about relationships.

Allie remarked, “This tune is about embracing a love that makes even the simplest moments feel epic.”

For the song “Resilient,” Allie noted that any song can take various shapes and forms and result in endless meanings for each individual, thereby instantly connecting with listeners. The message of “Resilient” offers hope to those who are battling any type of issue, whether it is addiction, relationship challenges, a lost loved one, or other personal situations.

Allie performed “Resilient” at the survivors’ ceremony for the New York State Trail of Truth this summer and was then invited to the National Trail of Truth event in Washington, D.C. in September. The event brought families and loved ones together who have lost someone to overdose and also put the spotlight on survivors who have overcome substance use struggles.

Allie expressed, “It was one of the greatest honors of my life to perform there, and it was emotional beyond words,” adding, “Music has a way of carrying hope, and ‘Resilient’ was written to remind us all that no matter what we’ve faced, our strength and stories matter.”

Overall, in 2025, Allie exclaimed, “Has been super successful, and my biggest year so far.”

Allie performed locally at Spiedie Fest, the Binghamton PorchFest, and at the Owego Strawberry Festival, to name a few.

2025 also brought Allie the distinct opportunity to sing in Nashville, Tennessee. Allie performed at the Tin Roof Broadway in Nashville, a part of the CMA Music Festival, and began working with songwriters and producers in Music City. That collaboration continues today, and Allie has found that the Nashville connections have helped energize her creative passion and credits their talent and resources for enriching her personal music process. 

In addition to performing at the Village Appreciation Night, Allie will be returning to Tioga County in November. Allie will compete in the 2025 Dancing United with the Starz event and will dance with professional dancer and artistic director/producer Geraldo Iglesias. The Masquerade Party-themed event is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Tioga Downs Casino and Resort located at 2384 W. River Rd. in Nichols, N.Y. and serves as a fundraiser for Tioga United Way.

Also in the works for Allie is her fourth annual “Virtual Voices,” where the public has the opportunity to sing via the app Smule and compete against others for a chance to collaborate with Allie. The winner will be invited to visit a professional studio to sing a duet with Allie and produce a music video. Allie is excited about the success of “Virtual Voices,” and enjoys being a mentor to other singers.   

Allie is looking forward to the upcoming winter months, and where she will be working on new material, and performing at holiday-themed events, and all while working as a dental hygienist, too.

To learn more about Allie Torto and to listen to her new music, visit her website, https://allietorto.com. You can also find her on multiple socials, including Allie Torto Music on both Facebook and Instagram, and can download her music on several music streaming platforms.