Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club Kicks Off Fall Festival Planning

Plans are underway for its 2nd Annual Fall Festival, a free event that features food trucks, beer, music, professional carnival games, inflatables including two bounce houses, general vendors, community booths, farm animals from several area schools, selfie photo spots, and more.

The annual event is sponsored by the GFWC Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club, and will run from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 14. at Lake Wailes Park. Event proceeds will fund programs that benefit local school children.

"We're excited about the response that we've already received from supporters, including Weikert Ford, who also sponsored last year's event," said Mary Walkup, this year's festival chairperson.

"This year...we've contracted with a professional company to bring in carnival games. We want the day to be really fun – it's a great way for the community to come together to raise funds to benefit local school children, Walkup added. "Plus we've already signed up food trucks from Lake Wales, Orlando, Lakeland, and Haines City, but we've still got room for general vendors and nonprofit groups."

Last year's festival proceeds allowed the Junior Woman's Club to start its Grants for Great Ideas for classroom mini-grants at Lake Wales Schools. Festival organizers hope to raise enough money this year to also include Babson Park and Frostproof schools next year.

The Club also dedicates its efforts to Lake Wales students who are at-risk, homeless, live in a shelter, are unaccompanied minors, or who have been displaced from their home due to an emergency removal. The Junior Woman's Club works directly with the Lake Wales Police Department to provide "Backpacks of Love" for these students.

The Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), a worldwide women's service organization. To become involved with the Fall Fest fundraiser, including sponsorships, food trucks, general vendors, or community booths, contact Chairperson Mary Walkup at [email protected].