FORT BLISS, Texas (Oct. 30, 2014) -- More notable than the plethora of Halloween-themed games, food and activities offered at the Milam Youth Activity Center's Harvest Festival is the fact that more than 70 MYAC youth planned, organized and practically ran the event, the facility's director said.
As hundreds of costumed children darted throughout the East Bliss facility Saturday to play games like "Witch Toss" and decorate their own cupcakes, teams of mostly junior high- and high school-aged MYAC volunteers corralled stray props and ensured colorful frosting, sprinkles and M&Ms were in constant supply.
"The (MYAC) kids, they do all the planning, they do all the prep work, and they make the signs," Susan Goss, MYAC director, said of the event, now in its fifth year. "They work so hard for this all month, and then they come in on their Saturday and they're working all the different stations."
The gymnasium floor of the MYAC served essentially as a carnival ground, where children could try their hand at humorous games like "Glowing Ghosts," "Pumpkin Pitch" and "Toilet Toss." Meanwhile, the central area had the cupcake station, face painting, temporary tattoos and the most popular attraction: a multi-room haunted house designed and built by MYAC volunteers.
This year's festival was the most largely attended, with more than 800 Bliss community members showing up, Goss estimated. The director said she attributes the event's continued success to the boundless creativity of the young MYAC organizers and their desire to make it better every year.
"I had people come up to me today and say, 'This is our second, third or fourth time coming,' and my heart just swells," said Goss. "I just feel honored to have this many people come here and enjoy it. I love seeing people come back because that makes me feel like we're doing something right."
Attending the festival for the first time was Spc. Alex Heath and his family. Heath, assigned to 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, said he and his family had a lot of fun at the event, and he admired the many volunteers who made it possible for the Bliss community to come out and enjoy themselves.
"It was worth it to come out here just to see what other people's costumes are, and to see everyone having fun, dressing up and being goofy," said Heath. "It's a good opportunity for people to get out in a safe environment."
"It's a good event, and I really like it because there's candy, cupcakes and all these games, like tossing the beanbags, throwing the hula hoops, and throwing the toilet paper rolls into the bucket," said Jace Zangrillo, 6, dressed as Captain America.
Jacqueline Briddell, 16, has been coming to the MYAC since her family arrived here in 2011. The facility's welcoming atmosphere, coupled with Goss' encouragement that her young patrons get involved with their community, led Jacqueline to be a regular volunteer at MYAC events, which includes her fifth straight year working the Harvest Festival.
The planning and preparation for the event, which included ordering supplies and deciding which games to offer, was a hectic process, Jacqueline said, but being able to help the community and bring it together "puts a big smile on (her) face."
"I'm not too much of a Halloween lover, but I think just dressing up and being someone else for a day is fun -- especially for the kids who look up to these characters," said Jacqueline. "Today has definitely been a success for us. I wish I had something like this when I was their age."
Halloween is one of the few holidays left that isn't completely commercial, said Goss. Sure, there is candy and costumes, but the Harvest Festival is mostly an event where children can dress up and have fun at a place where there is no agenda, she said.
"This (event) isn't just making an impression on me; this isn't just making an impression on our families," said Goss, "this is making an impression on our teens, and that's priceless."
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