MANSFIELD – Mansfield City Parks and Recreation Department held its first-ever fall festival Friday, Sept. 14 at North Lake Park.
The Fall Family Festival featured pumpkin decorating, a coloring station, community games and a variety of locally-sourced, autumn-themed foods, including a caramel apple station and donuts from Apple Hill Orchard
“We just wanted to host a family event for the community and to bring back the wholesome, family-fun type of events to our parks,” said recreation coordinator, Angel Ross-Taylor, who joined the Mansfield City Parks and Recreation Department in July.
Ross-Taylor would like to see the festival become an annual event, and she expressed intentions to hold more events at the city’s other parks, too.
“I just appreciate how my boss, Mark Abrams, the park’s manager, has reacted to any idea I’ve come up with,” she said. “He’s like, ‘Okay, go for it.’ And I appreciate his support.”
Her 6-year-old daughter, Angel Ross was most excited for the food, she shared while snacking on a bag of Jones Potato Chips.
Teaira Ross, 15, was running the caramel apple station.
“I’ve been making them since earlier today, and I think it’ll be something a lot of kids enjoy,” Ross said.
Nyte Flyte Sound and Lighting provided DJ services and ran the games.
Gift cards and other prizes were raffled throughout the evening to both children and adults.
Ross-Taylor thanked the event’s sponsors and volunteers.
