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Get ready to celebrate spring with a burst of color! The South Pasadena Educational Foundation’s 4th Annual Color Festival returns on Saturday, March 16th, from 10am-3pm at the South Pasadena Unified School District parking lot, located at 1020 El Centro Street.
Inspired by the Indian Festival of Holi, the SPEF Color Festival is a celebration of Spring that brings together the South Pasadena community for a fun-filled day of food, music, games and vibrant color throws. As part of the celebration, event goers will be able to purchase small bags of brightly colored, non-toxic cornstarch and are invited to play, dance and color each other throughout the event.
Last year’s Color Festival was a monster hit for SPEF and this year’s event features new activities and games the whole family can enjoy, including a super slide, human “whack a mole” game, giant bounce house, and oversized Kerplunk and Connect Four games. Children 8 and under will have access to a designated ‘Kid Zone’ with games and activities provided by My Gym. Parents can even take a break from the festivities in the new ‘Parent Lounge,’ complete with a cell phone charging stand and complimentary massages provided by Massage Envy.
Food trucks and tables are available inside the venue and include Dina’s Dumplings, Kon Tiki Tacos, Kona Ice, Menchie’s, and Twohey’s.
SPEF’s Color Festival is made possible through the generous support of local sponsors: (Gold) SmileHaus Orthodontics; (Silver) Morrow & Holman, Thinkwell; (Bronze) First Financial Credit Union, FLEX College Prep, Foothill Federal Credit Union, Green Brooms Music Academy, Hartman Baldwin Design & Build, Carol Majors, Lawrence Ng Family Foundation, Massage Envy, Revolution Math; (Community Partners) Fair Oaks Orthodontics, Family Chiropractic, Kim’s Hapkido, Lindamood Bell Learning, My Gym Pasadena.
The idea for Color Festival originated in 2015 after community members expressed a need for a family-friendly event that would give residents of all ages, including teenagers, an opportunity to get together with friends in a festival-like setting. The South Pasadena EducationalFoundation wanted to meet this need as a ‘Thank You’ to the community for its generous support throughout the year and sought ideas for possible events. It was at this time that Board members recommended looking to the Indian Holi Festival for inspiration.
In India, the Holi Festival is a celebration of Spring that is enjoyed by the entire community. It’s a day when people of all ages, and from all walks of life, come together as a community and differences are washed away in color. Holi is traditionally celebrated at the end of winter on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month and varies with the lunar cycle. This year Holi coincides with the spring equinox on March 20th, turning the week of the 16th into a global celebration of spring.
The Color Festival draws in over 1,500 attendees of all ages and achieves its goal of providing a memorable community event, showcasing the charms of South Pasadena. Throughout the weekend, news of the unique event spread through social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat feeds filled with images of brightly colored festival goers.
Admission to the Color Festival is $5 per person. Non-toxic color bags and bottles available for purchase separately or as part of a package bundle. Proceeds from the event go towards supporting SPEF’s efforts to promote excellence in local public schools. The South Pasadena Educational Foundation’s mission is to support all five South Pasadena Public Schools through an annual gift of over $730,000, as well as through the Teacher Direct Grants and Major Grants programs.
For more information on the event, please visit: www./spef4kids.org/fundraising-events/color-festival/
