Members of the Anderson High School Student Council started an annual fall festival last year as a way of giving families opportunities to experience the school in a positive light.
This year’s edition, held Saturday, expanded on that vision, drawing dozens to the school to enjoy an afternoon of carnival-style activities, including balloon animals, face painting, miniature golf and other games.
Student council members did everything from securing vendors to organizing volunteers, according to Leo Padilla, the student council’s interior vice president.
Padilla spent much of Saturday’s festival hustling around the school’s gymnasium checking on booths, ensuring supplies were stocked and generally making sure things were running smoothly.
"If there's emails to be sent out (for) the student council, I manage attendance for them, and I manage planning on where people will go," Padilla said.
He added that council members began brainstorming ideas for the festival in July, and when school resumed, planning accelerated in earnest.
"You've definitely got to reach out to a lot of people, figure out who can be there, who can supply us with the food, prizes, games," he said. "There's a lot of reaching out that happens. You have to make sure you tell people in advance because random things pop up, and you need to make sure you have the people to do this."
An estimated 50 people arrived during the festival’s first hour to check out the activities and sample items from outdoor food vendors.
"The kids wanted to show some of the great things that Anderson High has to offer," said Brittany Sylvia, an advisor for the student council.
Sylvia said she considers the high school to be a part of the city's heartbeat.
"It's our kids that are going to be filling up our community,” she said. “We want to pour into them because eventually, they are going to be pouring into us."
Sylvia said the council hopes to secure more sponsorships for the 2026 event, in hopes of making it bigger and better.
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.