Harvest Festival and outreach: staff outlines ticketing, volunteer needs and outreach plans

Parks staff described multiple upcoming outreach events and some operational changes at the Aug. 20 commission meeting, asking commissioners to help with promotion and volunteer staffing.

Harvest Festival: Staff said the big change this year is charging children for entry under an early-bird model. The event will use an early-bird rate of $10 per child (which includes a meal, activities and a bracelet); after the early-bird period the price will be $15 per child, and adults will not be charged. The festival will include a "not so spooky" trail, tractor rides, a costume parade that will move through the building, and food and beverage sales for adults. Staff asked commissioners and volunteers to staff activities and requested that Vice Chair Bill Hanson lead the costume parade.

Trivia Night and other outreach: Staff said the commission and council have purchased or been asked to purchase tables for an upcoming Trivia Night fundraising event (about $200 per table of eight), and that local merchants are donating raffle and auction items. Staff also reported community partnerships for other events and promotions including a food-truck or restaurant tie-in for sports days and a Movie-in-the-Park showing of The Wild Robot on Sept. 12 at Stacy Park (screening time 7:15–9:15 p.m.).

Volunteer coordination: Staff will send meeting requests for Harvest Festival volunteer shifts and asked commissioners to accept and sign up. Staff said high-school honor societies will be recruited for volunteer shifts and that the parks crew will assign setup and task lists for volunteers.

Ending: Staff said the outreach events are valuable public engagement opportunities and that the commission’s participation with tables, volunteer time and parade leadership would support attendance and execution.