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\nBy Jana Malik, Activities Director at Solivita<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The annual Fall Festival at Solivita has gotten bigger and better every year, with this year\u2019s event being no exception! On November 4, 2017, the 16th Annual Fall Festival brought 3,500 in attendance! The Fall Festival Committee, a true collaboration of the Solivita Lifestyles Activities Team and 12 residents, meets once a month all year long to plan, suggest, implement, review and improve the biggest event held annually at Solivita.<\/p>\n

<\/a>With vendors being the main attraction, they are required to mail their application form describing their handmade art or craft along with pictures for the Festival Vendor Selection Committee to review, as we only allow original creations. 2017 drew the most vendors to date with 120 spanning from one end of the Village Center to the other and inside three rooms!<\/p>\n

This committee also meets with the on-site Food and Beverage Catering team, Hampton Golf, to go over the menus, locations, times, setup, signs and more. This year\u2019s event had eight total food and beverage concessions, located inside and outside, including a BBQ Grille, an International Grille, an Italian themed Wine and Beer Garden, the Bistro Caf\u00e9, a Bake Shoppe and more!<\/p>\n

<\/a>In a courtyard right off the main road and in front of the Solivita Welcome Center was the rambunctious Kidz Zone. This year\u2019s Kidz Zone not only had the usual free make and take-home crafts, face painting, popcorn and balloons, but newly added was a scarecrow stilt walker and a local kids dance company to perform assorted dance style performances to the delight of everyone watching.<\/p>\n

The festival endeavors to sponsor and give back to a local charity every year. This year\u2019s charity, the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry, raised $1,565 at the Fund Drive held on the day of the event from both event entrances. It is double what they raised last year.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The annual festival cannot happen without the assistance from 100 resident volunteers, 30 students from the local high schools, and the housekeeping and maintenance staff at Solivita. It is a true team effort.<\/p>\n

All in all, this event always brings the community together to enjoy a beautiful day of \u201cLife in the Sun\u201d at the place we call Solivita.<\/p>\n