Sunday marked the tenth year of Tuscaloosa One Place’s fall festival event. This year’s festival, titled “All For One,” was made possible by a collaboration with the University of Alabama’s Honors College and the Tuscaloosa Volunteer Reception Center.
The festival itself saw a substantial increase in the number of community members in attendance. Part of the reason for this increase is that this year’s festival was held in Jaycee Park in Alberta City, a different, larger location than Tuscaloosa One Place, where the event was previously held.
Allyson Golden, who volunteered through her honor society, suggests that perhaps the biggest reason for the increase in attendance is that after the devastation of the tornado in April, the community of Tuscaloosa needed an outlet for expression.
“After the events of last year Tuscaloosa definitely needs an opportunity for the community to come together and to raise their spirits,” Golden said.
To help make the event possible, an outpouring of community and university organizations like Lambda Sigma and HD43 worked together to provide a cheerful atmosphere for the community.
Booths with different carnival activities, such as pumpkin decorating, beanbag toss, fishing games and a cupcake walk, were scattered around the park in addition to the Disney princess-and-dragon-themed moon bounces.
Children ran around dressed as Batman, witches, Ninja Turtles, cats and geishas with bags of candy provided by the different booths. They were eligible for a costume contest that took place at 3 p.m.
“There are so many games here for the kids to play,” said Betty Price, an attendee and resident of Alberta City. “My son loved the moon bounce and when the helicopter took off. I definitely think we will attend this next year.”
The Tuscaloosa fire and police departments also provided a fire truck and helicopter for display at the festival. Part-time pilot Jeff Hartley gave tours of the helicopter.
“Tuscaloosa was the first city in Alabama with [police] helicopters,” Hartley said. “We use them for search and rescue. During the tornado they were instrumental.”
Kristen Lee, a volunteer and member of UA’s women’s basketball team, said the involvement of so many different people is what made the event special.
“It’s a collective effort,” Lee said. “There’s always something you can do to help build the community back up.”
Emerald Autrey, the volunteer coordinator for Tuscaloosa One Place, said she was grateful for the help provided by organizations like the Honors College and that creating a safe community environment was the goal.
“We are so appreciative of the help we have gotten from the Honors College Assembly and the Volunteer Resource Center,” Autrey said. “We want to give the community safe opportunities to come together and have fun with their family.”
