Our school transformed into a vibrant celebration of autumn during PTO’s annual Fall Festival, on Friday, November 1st. With colorful decorations, cheerful laughter, and the smell of seasonal treats in the air, the event brought together students, families, and staff for an evening filled with fun and festivities. From hayrides and pumpkin carving to face painting and a pie eating contest, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a look back at the highlights of this memorable day!
Prior to the event were multiple weeks of planning and collaboration from staff, students, and volunteers, which all came together and allowed this day to become a blazing and fun success. With multiple meetings and groups of planning and work, together student and parent volunteers alike worked together to create an organized and structured event. As the community walked to the main campus from their cars, they were greeted with many fall-themed decorations, and even scarecrows dressed in elementary uniforms!
The food vendors at the festival offered an array of options that were appreciated by everyone. The sizzling hot dog, shawarma, and burger stands drew crowds with the smell of food, serving up classic favorites that had everyone lining up. For those looking for a sweet treat, Bigdash, Beezo’s Coffee, and several local dessert vendors brought an impressive selection of sweets. Sophomore, Maryam Khan, tried a Dubai Chocolate Bar from one of the local vendors and said she very much enjoyed it. This is a chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream and kunafa, which has recently gone viral on platforms like Instagram or TikTok. “It was really good, not too sweet,” says Khan. “It was a really great price for the quality, and because this dessert has been trending lately, I was really excited to try it.”
Apart from the food, there were a variety of activities for adults and children alike. There really was never a dull moment at the festival- on one side, activities such as face painting, apple bobbing, and a bounce house were filled with children. On the other side, coffee shops and food vendors had adults and teens talking and laughing, enjoying the crisp fall weather. However, that’s not to say that some activities didn’t appeal to all ages. Sophomore, Eman Hayee, showed off her beautiful painted pumpkin, following the recently popular cheetah-print design. “It was awesome to see children and teens all excited about the same thing, with their parents all watching. I loved seeing everyone else’s pumpkins also!”, Hayee exclaimed. Activities like this one brought together many different community members in a harmonious atmosphere that showed the kindly nature of our school community. Students and staff alike enjoyed the company of their friends and had fun exploring all the different entertainment options at the fest.
One of the most memorable experiences at the fest was the pie eating contest. Students and adults alike competed in the contest, to win a Dutch Bros gift card, by eating a personal pie without using their hands. A crowd of people watched the contestants gobble down the pies as fast as they could, laughing as the pie coated their mouths. It was extremely entertaining to watch, and Senior, Bishr Alaqtash, won the grand prize.
First grader, Ibrahim Hussien, said that his favorite activity was the hayride. A tractor full of hay took the younger children around the soccer field, providing them with a classic fall tradition for many families. “It was so cool, but the hay was really scratchy,” Hussien said, scrunching his nose. “But I liked riding the tractor with my friends.” The hayride was available to anyone who had paid for an orange wristband, and allowed participants to ride as many times as they liked. Keeping the fall mood was a photo backdrop of pumpkins, haystacks, and scarecrows, where people took photos as groups with family and friends. This was the perfect chance to capture everyone’s fall themed outfits, as volunteers were asked to wear fall colors, and many others followed suit.
Volunteers worked diligently to ensure the success of the event for everyone involved. People enjoyed food, games, and a chance to socialize with friends that was much needed after a long few weeks of tests and quizzes. With multiple food vendors, activities, games, and rides, the Fall Festival proved to be an exciting event for students, staff, and community members to look forward to.
