Vendors interested in reserving a space at the event can access an application by visiting the district’s website
RIDGEFIELD — Area residents are encouraged to mark their calendars for some good old-fashioned, small-town fun as the Ridgefield School District prepares to host Experience Ridgefield on Sat., Sept. 14. The annual community carnival celebrates Ridgefield’s proud past, prosperous present and promising future. This will be the school district’s fourth year hosting the event.
This year, Experience Ridgefield will be held on the same day as Oktoberfest, which is sponsored by the Ridgefield Main Street Association. Both events will take place at the new Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex (RORC) at 3125 S. Hillhurst Road from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Experience Ridgefield is truly an event where there will be something for everyone,” said Bonnie Harris, Executive Secretary for the Ridgefield School District and the event’s coordinator. “There will be food and craft vendors, informational kiosks, a carnival midway and much more.”
Experience Ridgefield was born a few years ago from a concept developed by the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) consisting of 12 students from grades 4-12 — each representing one of the district’s schools.
When school board members, Scott Gullickson and Joseph Vance, sought ideas for a way to bring the community together at a district-hosted event, Ridgefield School Superintendent Nathan McCann turned to the SSAC students for their input. The students came up with the highly interactive, carnival-like event, and designed it to represent everything that makes Ridgefield unique, capturing everything they love about their community. Appropriately, they named it “Experience Ridgefield.”
The event, launched in 2016, was a phenomenal success. The students’ marketing and promotional efforts brought in more than 40 vendors and secured a lead sponsorship by Holbrook Concrete Construction Inc. with assistance from The Historic Sportsman’s Steakhouse and Saloon.
“I’m very proud of all the creativity and planning put in by the students in developing an annual event that celebrates the spirit and pride of this amazing community,” said McCann. “We appreciate the generosity of our partnering sponsors and the many local businesses, civic groups and public entities who continue to support Experience Ridgefield each year.”
Vendors interested in reserving a space at the event can access an application by visiting the district’s website at www.ridgefieldsd.org. Click on Explore – Forms – Experience Ridgefield.
Information provided by Ridgefield School District.
