Fun Family Fall Festival and 5K Run at the YMCA

Fall festivals and fun family 5K runs during Halloween weekend are traditions that are just as much Florida without the leaves changing colors. The temperature at the start time could have been slightly cooler with over 100 runners of children, family and friends gathered at the YMCA of Collier County for its first Fall Festival and 5K.

Runners and walkers had a family friendly course through the backstreets of Marco with a double loop around Mackle Park Lake. After the run, there was an array of family-oriented fun things to do with children’s games, live music, candies, a pumpkin patch and lots of giveaways from the sponsors.

According to Cindy Love-Abounader, President/CEO of the YMCA of Collier County, they already raised up to $35K from registration fees, donations and sponsorship. The Y and the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors (MIAAOR) wanted to do something fun for the community so they came up with a Family Fall Festival and hope to see it grow every year. It was nice for everybody to come together, and it was also good for the visitors to see what the Y is doing with the morning programs of swimming, tennis and pickleball.

The proceeds from the Festival and Fun Run will benefit the Y’s programs and services for children and their families.