Julian High School hosted a Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, on the school’s football practice field. The Julian staff headed by Joyce Chapman were identified by their bright yellow sweatshirts managing multiple stations throughout the festival.
Healthy Chicago Equity Zone Washington Heights presented this event to introduce Healthy Chicago 2025. The project is Chicago’s five-year community health improvement plan that focuses on racial and health equity to meet its goal of reducing the Black-white life expectancy gap.
Healthy Chicago 2025, launched on Sept. 17, 2020, reflects the work of hundreds of community members and organizations to assess the current status of area communities and organizations and develop approaches to strengthen neighborhood vitality and system coordination.
The free festival had many public interest stages as community members with their children began to enter the registration area. One of the significant areas of interest was the pony hayride and the petting zoo. Excited children lined up to ride the ponies and pet the ducks, lambs, chickens, and geese.
A huge jumpy house and obstacle course, along with an Inflatable Viking Ax-Throw station, also kept the children happy and engaged.
Event coordinators set up a station for onsite COVID-19 vaccinations free of charge. To the right of that station was a tent where free rapid and PCR COVID-19 testing was available.
Julian provided Popcorn, cotton candy, hot chocolate, and a giant pumpkin patch where children could paint and take any pumpkin they painted with them.
Harold’s Chicken food truck was on-site, providing free food to those that received a food ticket during registration. Patrons sat back and ate their chicken while listening to live entertainment provided by The New Renaissance II Band.
FSCAC, along with Phalanx Family Services and Roseland Community Health, were major sponsors of the festival. The parents and children enjoyed the event and look forward to next year’s festival.
Written by Omari Jahi
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Images Courtesy of Chicago Leader
