Stanfield Fall Festival a Big Success

[quote style=”2″]Proceeds to Help Fund Movies in the Park Next Summer[/quote]

Darkness and autumn weather couldn’t keep the crowds away from the Stanfield Fall Festival. Instead, the s’mores- and spooks-filled fundraiser delighted kids and brought in more than $2,000.

“I was amazed by the support,” Stanfield Librarian Cecily Longhorn said. “It was a proud moment for Stanfield.”

Thirteen game booths, two bounce houses, vendors and a hay maze welcomed visitors to Bard Park on Saturday for the Stanfield Fall Festival. Crowds filled the park for most of the event, even after a glitch shut the lights shut off a little before 7 p.m.

During the blackout, volunteers continued to run games and activities using cell phones and flashlights. Accessed through a hayride from the park, the festival also included “The Haunted Library” attraction. Volunteers transformed the friendly Stanfield Public Library into a dark lair filled with monsters and surprises.

“We wanted to do a fall festival and someone suggested doing a haunted house. We looked at a couple of places that didn’t pan out, then someone suggested using the library,” Longhorn said. “I think a lot of people came over not realizing how scary it was going to be.”

A half-dozen living monsters waited in the library to spook visitors, including Jarred Little, who wandered through the book-filled halls in full zombie makeup.

“They love it,” the zomibified Little said. “Although one said I was a nice zombie. It’s a lot of fun.” Everyone involved in the haunted house volunteered, Longhorn said, as did those who staffed game booths and set up the park.

“Everyone stepped up to help. Everywhere we went, business owners, employees, people were excited,” she said. “They all enjoyed it and are already asking about next year. I definitely think we’ll do it again.”

A quartet of volunteers – Longhorn, Jennifer Brown, Jason Sperr and Heidi Carver – organized the event on behalf of the Friends of the Stanfield Public Library. The organizers had two goals: host a Halloween activity for children in Stanfield and raise money for a “Movies in the Park” event for summer 2014.

All proceeds will go toward a “Movies in the Park,” and after expenses, the event brought in more than $2,200 – more than half of the goal.

“Without the support of the great people around us, this wouldn’t have happened,” Longhorn said. “It’s amazing. You never know what will happen in Stanfield next.”