Fall was in the air at Yake Elementary this weekend as students, families and staff gathered for the school’s annual Fall Festival on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The beloved tradition has been welcoming Gators and their families to Yake since 2009. Now in its 18th year, the event began under the leadership of former Yake PTO President and School Board President Cara Pimer and has continued to grow into a much-anticipated celebration of fall and the Yake community.
Families enjoyed an afternoon filled with face painting, pumpkin decorating, bounce houses, hayrides - with Principal Tim Podlewski behind the wheel of the tractor - along with pizza, ice cream and lemonade or water. In the early years, the festival even featured a petting farm, including camel rides during Mrs. Pimer’s final year.
The Yake PTO has worked hard to keep the event affordable, maintaining the presale wristband price at just $10 per person for nearly two decades. The wristband includes all of the festival activities and treats. While the PTO typically loses money on the event in an effort to keep costs low for families, the smiles, laughter and memories make it worthwhile.
“The goal of the Fall Festival has always been to create a sense of community at Yake,” said Principal Tim Podlewski. “We want our new families to feel welcomed and our returning families to feel connected. It’s a chance for everyone to come together, have some fun and celebrate what makes Yake such a special place to be.”
At Yake Elementary, the Fall Festival is just one of many traditions that bring the school community together. Events such as the Fall Festival, Monster Mash Bash and Winter Carnival give students and families opportunities to have fun while building friendships and lasting relationships.
That sense of community is a big part of why the Yake saying, “Once a Gator...Always a Gator,” continues to resonate with students, families and the community. In fact, many of the students who volunteer at Yake events are former Gators themselves.
“They love coming back home,” Podlewski said. “They remember the fun they had at these events when they were students, and now they want to be part of creating those same memories for the next generation of Gators.”
The Fall Festival continues to be a wonderful example of the Yake community coming together to welcome fall, make memories and celebrate what it means to be a Gator.
