Community Celebration and Connection at VOA’s 3rd Annual Fall Festival

Community members joined VOA Alaska and other organizations on Sunday, October 6, for VOA Alaska's third annual Fall Festival.

October 18, 2024
Community Engagement

Our third annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 6, was a fantastic day filled with connection and community! Thank you to everyone who joined us to make it so memorable.

We’re especially grateful to Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc., Alaska Children’s Museum, Anchorage Health Department, Camp Fire Alaska, Identity Inc., Alaska Military Youth Academy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, Providence, Anchorage WIC, Stone Soup Group, and the Alaska Department of Health for providing resources, information, and engaging activities for all our attendees.

A heartfelt thanks also goes to ConocoPhillips and our other generous sponsors for making this event possible and for their ongoing support of essential behavioral health and wellness services for Alaska’s youth, young adults, and families.

Wide shot of the room VOA Alaska’s Fall Festival was held. In the image, you see attendees around tables and a projection of the Fall Festival logo on the wall.

Held at The Nave in Spenard on Sunday, October 6, attendees gathered to join in on some fall festivities! VOA Alaska staff and volunteers also provided attendees a delicious, fresh-off-the-grill burger and hot dog lunch!

Fall Festival attendees enjoying their lunch and smiling for a photo op!

VOA Alaska’s signature photo booth was a hit, allowing attendees to snap fun memories!

A family at VOA Alaska's Fall Festival stop and pose at a photo booth at the event. Each family member has a silly accessory they are holding or wearing. — Fall Festival attendees stop and pose at our photo booth!

Face painter at VOA Alaska's Fall Festival happily paints a design on a youth's face. — A youth gets their face painted at our Fall Festival!

A youth smiles holding a sword made out of balloons at VOA Alaska's Fall Festival. — A youth smiles and shows off his balloon made at VOA Alaska’s Fall Festival.

Attendees at VOA Alaska's Fall Festival create — Fall Festival attendees also had the opportunity to create their own bracelets at the Camp Fire booth.

A staff member of Camp Fire Alaska laughs with a Fall Festival attendee while making a bracelet. — Attendee and Camp Fire Staff laugh together while making a bracelet at their booth.

Among the festivities, local band, Carnelian Woman, provided the Fall Festival atmosphere with some easy-listening music throughout the duration of the event.

All that joined were also eligible to win various raffle prizes! From gift cards to a pumpkin carving kit to a $100 Costco gift certificate, attendees eagerly awaited to see if they had the winning ticket! Community Engagement Manager, Maricar Yuzon (pictured below), facilitated the gift giveaways and also was an integral leader in planning this event.

A Fall Festival attendee wins one of the raffle prizes at th eevent. — A Fall Festival raffle prize winner receives their gift basket during the event!

One of the day’s highlights was honoring Dar Walden with the 2024 VOA Alaska Firefly Award. Established by VOA Alaska in 2021, this award recognizes community leaders dedicated to youth wellness. Dar’s foundation, the Christopher Walden House of Hope, was created in memory of her son and has been instrumental in supporting VOA’s residential ARCH treatment center and the Christopher Walden School of Hope. We are deeply grateful for Dar’s enduring advocacy and are honored to present her with this award in recognition of her commitment to Alaska’s youth