RIDGEFIELD — Area residents can get ready for some old-fashioned, small-town fun as the Ridgefield School District prepares to host its second Experience Ridgefield event on Sat., Sept. 23.
The community carnival, set to take place at Ridgefield High School from 3-7:30 pm, celebrates Ridgefield’s proud past, prosperous present, and promising future.
“We are all very excited for Experience Ridgefield,” said Bonnie Harris, executive secretary for the Ridgefield School District and the event’s coordinator. “This is truly an event where there will be something for folks of all ages to enjoy. We will have numerous food vendors, music, games and activities, a game truck, potato sack races, inflatables, arts and crafts, a selfie photo booth, many exhibits and displays, a Mr. Potato Head Contest, and much more.”
In addition to all the food, music, and fun, the Ridgefield Family Resource Center (RFRC) will be sponsoring a “Stuff the Van” campaign to collect personal hygiene items, non-perishable food, and new coats for the center.
In the evening, families can enjoy a showing of “The Goonies” under the stars at the district’s football stadium.
Experience Ridgefield was born from a concept developed by the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) consisting of 12 — each representing one of the district’s four schools who meet monthly with Superintendent Nathan McCann to provide the district with advice and feedback. The group also completes a project each year that contributes to the betterment of the community.
When board members, Scott Gullickson and Joseph Vance, sought ideas for a way to bring the community together at a district-hosted event, McCann turned to his group of SSAC students for their input. The students developed the highly interactive, carnival-like event, making it representative of everything that makes Ridgefield unique. They wanted the event to capture everything they loved about their community. Appropriately, they named it “Experience Ridgefield.”
The event, launched last year, was a phenomenal success. The students’ efforts in marketing and promotion brought in more than 40 vendors and lead sponsorship by Holbrook Concrete Construction Inc. with assistance from The Historic Sportsman’s Steakhouse and Saloon. This will be the district’s second year hosting Experience Ridgefield. It is thankful to Holbrook Concrete Construction Inc. for once again being this year’s lead sponsor.
“I’m very proud of all the creativity and planning put in by the students in developing this large-scale community event that celebrates the spirit and pride that makes Ridgefield such a wonderfully unique place to live,” said McCann. “We appreciate the generosity of our partnering sponsors and the many local businesses, civic groups, and public entities for supporting Experience Ridgefield.”
Information courtesy of Ridgefield School District.
