Harvest Happenings at Blue Ridge

If you’re looking for a little nostalgia and just some good old-fashioned family fun, you won’t want to miss the annual Fall Festival at Blue Ridge School and Blue Ridge Early College on November 7, sponsored by the PTO. Current PTO President Kendra Pressley, who is also a graduate of Blue Ridge School, doesn’t remember a time without the Fall Festival. Pressley and the rest of the PTO board, including VP Ashley Dillard, Treasurer Ali Moody, and Secretary Amanda Woods, devote months to planning the festival and soliciting community support.

The event brings together students, parents, teachers, and community members for an energy-filled evening of inflatables, a mechanical bull, carnival games, a cake walk, face painting, bingo, a basket raffle, and delicious BBQ. The event is cash only and open to the public. Everyone in the community is encouraged to join in the fun, and volunteers are always welcome to help run the games

Come for the Mechanical Bull, Stay for the Bingo, Basket Raffles, and BBQ

Bingo cards are truly the hottest tickets in town and range from $1 to $10, depending on the prize offered. Last year was the first year the event had community sponsors, which helped substantially increase the funds raised for the school. Many local businesses contributed generous gifts, including gift certificates for multiple restaurants and spas, rounds of golf at local country clubs, paintings, rugs, handmade furniture, and so much more. Last year, 24 different bingo games were played during the night.

Another chance to win exciting prizes is to buy tickets and enter the basket raffles. Every class picks a theme for their basket, and students and their families donate items. Patrons put their tickets in baskets of their choice, and the winning tickets are drawn at the end of the night. With 13 individual baskets, there is something for everyone, and past themes have included Chocolate Lovers, Family Game Night, and All Things Camping. Basket raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.

Local realtor/BBQ aficionado Mike Blaylock donates the BBQ for the event, and teachers and high school students provide the people power needed to run the games and inflatables.

“It’s a win-win because our high schoolers donate their time, and in turn, we are able to provide their caps and gowns free of charge with some of the money we raise,” said Pressley.

It’s heartwarming to see families enjoying a screen-free night and inspiring to see our community come together and donate their time and talents. “We live in such a wonderful community full of givers,” says Pressley. “We are very blessed to have that support.

“Our goal is to pour funds into student enrichment and engagement. We’ve been able to help fund our annual Field Day, in addition to field trips and anything the teachers need,” she explains. “No student misses out on an event because they can’t afford it.” Last year, the PTO  was also able to give 10% of the money raised to Hurricane Helene relief. That added up to $1,800, which the PTO hopes to match or exceed this year.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, and wristbands cost $20, which include unlimited access to inflatables, the mechanical bull, face painting, and carnival games. There is an additional cost for the cake walk, basket raffle, bingo cards, and BBQ dinner.

“We look forward to welcoming families, friends, and neighbors to campus on November 7 for an evening of good food, laughter, and connection,” said Blue Ridge School Principal Rayna Crisp. “We are so grateful for the dedication of our PTO leadership and volunteers. The Plateau’s coverage helps us celebrate not only the fun and excitement of the festival, but also the generosity of our community that makes events like this possible.”

To learn more, go to www.blueridgepto.org, and follow the Blue Ridge PTO on Facebook and Instagram for the most up-to-date events and info.

Blue Ridge School

Blue Ridge School, with Principal Rayna Crisp, currently serves 142 students, and Blue Ridge Early College, with Principal Dr. Nathan Frizzell, serves 128 students. According to the school’s website, “Together, we make up a school family of highly qualified faculty, skilled support staff, talented and creative students, involved and supportive parents, and motivated community members and agencies. We are a family committed to creating a safe, caring, positive, and challenging learning environment that will help us meet our common goal of providing students with an educational foundation that will help prepare them for the challenges of school and life at Blue Ridge and beyond.”