Complete with craft vendors, live animals, seasonal activities and, of course food, the Bridgeport FFALL Festival debuts at Wayne Jamison Field on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Sponsored by the Bridgeport Future Farmers of America, the event will not only serve as a club fundraiser, but also financially support other BHS organizations.
“We’re working with a number of school groups, including the BHS Thespians, Art Club, Student Council, DECA and Spanish Honorary,” said Justin Arnold, BHS agriculture teacher and club advisor. “We’re kind of the managing entity, but we wanted to benefit other groups as well.”
The event has been in the making for several months and students have taken the lead on organization, Arnold said.
“It is great to see their sense of direction and dedication to something like this,” he said.
From 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Nov. 2, several different activities will be ongoing in the field and parking lot. A car show – sponsored by Dan Cava Toyota – will be complete with awards. It is open to all vehicles.
“We’re going broad this year for sure. We don’t want to limit that potential, but looking ahead to the future, we may create different categories for the car show,” Arnold said.
Everyone’s favorite at a fall festival is a petting zoo and that is covered, as well.
Of course, the FFA goats which have been featured in former articles (read here) will be on site, as well as chickens, a donkey or pony, calves, and some of the students’ project lambs.
Festival goers can browse a vendor section where everything from engravable gifts, polymer clay jewelry, gourmet fudge, candles, woodwork items, BHS apparel, and much more will be available for purchase.
No fall festival is complete without a costume contest, which will be merged with a short course walk/run.
“There will be some sort of twist to make it less about the run, but more abut the experience,” Arnold said. Pre-registration will be necessary. Watch the Bridgeport FFA Facebook page.
Also requiring pre-registration is a cornhole tournament. Members of the winning team will each be awarded a cornhole board/set, customed-designed and built at BHS.
Rounding out the festival will be a pie eating contest (no pre-registration necessary), special guests, and a canned food drive to benefit the Harrison County Food Bank.
Food trucks will be onsite with favorite foods including Mr. Taco, Jojo’s Hibachi, Flipping Delights (ice cream, mini pancake desserts), and more.
There is no gate fee, but there will be a cost to play various games/activities sponsored by BHS clubs and groups.
Arnold and his students are hoping the FFALL Fest becomes a signature event for the community and associated with Bridgeport like Salem is with Apple Butter Festival and Clarksburg is with the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. That was, he said the inspiration behind the event.
With Bridgeport being such a supportive, close-knit city, organizers are hoping it will be a success in its first year.
Look for more details to be released in the coming weeks.
Those interested in participating as a craft vendor or food truck can contact Arnold at justin.arnold@k12.wv.us.
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