Staff photo by Emmy Errante
Olivia Roberts catches a plastic duck to get a prize at the Lucky Duck Attack at Wrightsville Beach School’s Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 26.
Wrightsville Beach School held its fall festival on Friday, Oct. 26, a tradition that serves as the biggest fundraiser for the Parent Teacher Association and also as a time for students, friends and family to officially kick off the school year.
The festival encompassed the school grounds with children running from one activity to the next, some yelling as they darted toward the pony rides behind the school by the playground.
Many of the activities were geared for the Mars Attacks theme.
“LJ Woodard chooses the theme every year,” said Melissa Ellison, vice president of the PTA.
Woodard led students in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance each hour and judged freeze dance competitions in between.
“The biggest thing is probably the dunking booth,” Ellison said. “… They like to put the teachers in the dunking booth.”
Ellison, dressed as Marty of the Pink Ladies in “Grease,” matched her 8-year-old daughter, Bella, dressed as Betty Rizzo. The two sported pink jackets around the festival among turtles, princesses, bees and genies.
PTA president Eliza Blackwell, dressed as Elvis, said the school has had some hiccups this year with overcrowding, but the festival is a time to be together as a community.
“It’s a cumulative effort,” Blackwell said. “This is one of the most fun events the kids do every year.”
Fifth-grader Pietra Trecco said she was not dressed as anything specific, but wore a long, blonde wig and had blue glitter around her eyes.
“Right now, I just put on wigs,” Trecco said.
She was working in the haunted house, a fifth grade class privilege, and was about to take a break to eat some ice cream.
“I kind of helped design it,” Trecco said. “We did a little one at my house.”
To the side of the school, children played galactic football by throwing footballs into two spaceship holes.
Aidan Sullivan, 11, stood in line dressed as his favorite animal — a penguin.
He said his favorite part of the festival is the cakewalk.
“You can win free cakes,” Sullivan said, adding that he had not won a cake yet, but hoped his younger brother was trying.
The traditional event raised $9,100 from the cakewalk, raffle tickets, wristbands and silent auction items. Around 500 people showed up to join in on the fun.
The money goes toward teacher supplies, gym equipment and other school needs, including a personal teacher allotment.
“We make sure they have everything they need,” Ellison said.
