Youth play among the multiple inflatable attractions at the annual Stonegate Elementary Harvest Festival. Photo by Seth Henderson

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - About 1,000 attendees were at Stonegate Elementary School in West Sacramento Oct. 4 during the annual Harvest Festival, one of the school’s biggest fundraisers featuring family-friendly fun, food, games and company.

Stonegate physical education and leadership teacher Mieko Mendenhall said that more than 55 high school volunteers, three-dozen parent volunteers and a number of teachers ran the event. She said that youth and community members have been anticipating the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)-run festival. 

“I think what’s really special is our family here at Stonegate. It’s just such an amazing thing to watch all of our kids come and get so excited,” Mendenhall said. “You know it’s a fundraiser but the kids really enjoy coming and playing games, and just hanging out with their friends, and being a part of it.”

Mendenhall said a committee plans the festival well in advance and it meets once a week to secure vendors and other festival features. Some booths present at the festival were the California Highway Patrol, Uplift Martial Arts, American Medical Response (AMR), West Sacramento Little League and other local craft makers or businesses. 

Ryan Cassidy, the vice president of West Sacramento Little League, said that with the Little League season starting up, the organization is already accepting signups and has almost 600 youth between all ages. Little League members were running around together, going around to different booths and play areas at the festival. 

Cassidy said that West Sacramento has a rich history, allowing for strong community connection, not only through Little League but through opportunities for the players to bond in the community at events such as the festival. He said the Little League program is lucky to have so many volunteers.

Clayton Pour, a 17-year-old senior at River City High School, said that as part of his leadership class, he and multiple classmates of his volunteered at the festival to run kids’ games and play areas. He said that they volunteered for about four hours. 

Stonegate Elementary Harvest Festival event coordinator Tiesha Washington said that an intense amount of planning goes into coordinating all of the amenities, vendors, crafts, games and volunteers needed to operate the festival. Washington said that she heard students talking about the festival in the days leading up to it, even while holding events such as the Worldwide Day of Play. 

“I just kept hearing in the background, ‘I cannot wait for the Harvest Festival,’ so just hearing those words, it feels good,” Washington said. “It makes you want to come back and do it again and try to bring a different surprise to it.”

Youth participate in several carnival-style games, including a ring toss, face painting and cornhole at annual Stonegate Elementary Harvest Festival on Oct. 4. Photo by Seth Henderson

One festival aspect that Washington said she wanted to improve was the organization of how the food was distributed and that she didn’t want attendees waiting too long for their order. Planning for the event started about a month and a half before the festival and Washington said she is excited to hear feedback to improve next year’s festival. 

“I feel like it’s my contribution to society and just seeing the different smiles, the people come out, it feels very safe,” Washington said. 

Stonegate Elementary School, part of the Washington Unified School District, is at 2500 W. La Jolla St. in West Sacramento. To learn more about the campus and its events, visit the website at https://stonegate.wusd.k12.ca.us.