Denver, Colorado… Mile High Academy’s Fall Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the school year as thoughts turn to falling leaves, pumpkins, apple cider and Mrs. Gerst’s famed corn dogs. On Saturday, Nov. 16, twinkling lights and colorfully-decorated booths welcomed more than 400 guests, including families, alumni and community members, to the campus.

MHA Sophomore Summer Nash moved from Tennessee with her family in January and was excited to experience her first-ever MHA Fall Festival. “I had so much fun seeing all the different booths,” she said. “But most of all I appreciated the opportunity to help staff both the Yearbook and Class of 2022 bead booths. I enjoyed helping the younger kids make their bead animals and having the chance to interact with everyone.”

Fall Festival booths are decorated and staffed by each respective class. The proceeds give teachers a little extra for their classrooms. Prizes are also distributed for the best-decorated booths. The 2019 winners are:

1st Place: Bead Animals (Class of 2022)

2nd Place: Indonesian Food (Local Family)

3rd Place: Nachos & Face Painting (5th Grade)

Other booths included a maze, decorating Christmas ornaments, pillow fights, face painting, a fishing booth and numerous food items. New this year to the Fall Festival was the 8th grade class Pie in the Face booth. Teachers and students donned their good sportsmanship smiles while attendees attempted to throw a pie in their face. A little friendly brother rivalry caused many laughs as Athletic Director Walter Weber was pied by his brother, Karl Weber.

“From decorating, providing supplies and staffing the booths, a lot of planning and work goes into the behind-the-scenes that makes Fall Festival such a fun-filled and remarkable event for our school,” said Jocelyn Aalborg, VP of Finance and Development. “We are humbled by the outpouring of support we receive from families, alumni, teachers and staff. And every year new memories and friends are made, which speaks volumes to the special school “family” that forms Mile High Academy.”

Jocelyn Aalborg; photos supplied