The City of Semmes free-to-enter Fall Festival hosted a plethora of community-impact events like pet adoptions, school fundraisers, blood donations and more on October 18th at the Mary G. Montgomery High School from noon until 6:00.
The festival offered some fundraiser highlights, particularly for groups associated with the school. The MGM Academy of Agribusiness sold student-made items like birdhouses, fall decor and merchandise to raise money for their career-tech program as well as the Semmes Future Farmers of America chapter, especially with their upcoming national convention & expo.
“It allows them [the students] to get to be able to do things that they might not normally be able to do because funding might be an issue. We want them to be able to experience whatever they can for as often as they can, whether it’s at the state level, the national level, even here when we do things in the community,” said Emily Dent, Agriscience Teacher & FFA Advisor. “It’s more than just farming because anything and everything that we do, whether you’re involved in farming or not, ties back to agriculture,” Dent added.
Additionally, the MGM Vikings Fishing Team held their own fundraiser selling cold drinks, merchandise, and a ‘Flip Pong’ game to raise money for their team. The MGM Viking Marching Band offered specialty sodas and a ‘Human Jackpot’ game in support of their organization.
The Mobile County Animal Shelter hosted a large adoption event at the festival as well. According to a representative from the organization, the previous year’s festival resulted in approximately sixteen adoptions.
“Even if they don’t get adopted today, they get a day out of the shelter,” the representative explained. “Not everyone wants to go into an animal shelter, sometimes that’s not people’s happy place. It can be sad for people and we understand that so we want to show the dogs in the light that they should be. They’re happy, they’re loving, they’re very friendly, and they want to be in a forever home,” she said.
The City of Semmes sponsored the shelter’s longest resident to go free to a good home. This year, that resident is Gigi, a one-year-old female Staffordshire Terrier Mix. The shelter is always looking for donated supplies like leashes, slip leads, durable toys, towels, blankets, dog bowls, and treats. Upcoming community adoption events include the Semmes Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest & Parade on October 16th as well as Pet Fest at the Mobile County Animal Shelter on November 7th.
LifeSouth was also on site at the event accepting blood donations. The organization is currently in urgent need of the O-Negative blood type. They offered Halloween or Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirts for blood donors.
The Semmes Police Department and Fire Department set up booths at the festival as well. The fire department held drill activities, games and educational demonstrations about fire safety.
The event also had local vendors, food trucks, games, and activities like trunk-or-treat, rides, and bounce houses.
Entertainment included live music by High Cotton, a local Southern rock cover band. There was also a free all-ages costume contest at 3:00.