Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship for The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus
MONTPELIER – In 2016, Montpelier City Councilor Adrienne Gil proposed a small festival called “Kids Cup” to raise money for local public schools.
On Saturday, Gil looked over the booths and games of the 9th annual Montpelier Fall Festival. She said she was excited and happy about how much this small idea has grown.
“We started small,” she said. “Now, look at it!”
The event Saturday featured a variety of games, face painting, bounce houses, live music, a one-mile fun run, and even a dunk tank.
“We have changed and added a bunch of things over the years, but the dunk tank has always stayed,” Gil said.
That first Kids Cup was held at the elementary school and few people participated, Gil said. As the years passed, more people started to get involved. For example, the local middle and high school students and faculty started to take on more responsibility.
The event raises money through direct donations, a raffle, and sponsorships from groups such as Hunger Mountain Co-op and Green Mountain Solar. All proceeds go to schools in the Montpelier Roxbury Public School District, through MRPS Partners in Education.
This festival has raised $80,000 for schools since it started, according to the festival’s website.
In addition to being a fundraising event, it’s a way to bring people together, according to Natalie Remick. She is a student coordinator for the event, and a senior at Montpelier High School.
“There’s a lot of community involved,” she said.
All of the tables along the sidewalks, around the state house, are high school clubs or local organizations and businesses, such as Onion River Outdoors, who sponsored the fun run.
Students from the high school are monitoring the donation tent, running games like the dunk tank, and showing off their musical talents on stage.
Remick herself had a variety of responsibilities. She was emcee for the live music, managed volunteers, and helped organize the tents for the different clubs and groups.
A highlight of the day was the Nathan Suter Memorial Fun Run. This was the first year the one-mile race was named for Suter, who died in May of a heart attack. He was 52.
Suter was coach for Montpelier Middle and High School track teams. He also was involved with justice-based and community-focused organizations.