Editor's note: This event has been postponed to April 28.

BROOKINGS – The annual PTA-sponsored Hillfest fundraising carnival will be held at Hillcrest Elementary School from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 28.

The long-standing, family-friendly fundraiser generates thousands of dollars and boasts children’s carnival games, raffle prizes for all ages, and a variety of concessions.  

For 31 years, proceeds from Hillfest have directly benefited the students and classrooms at Hillcrest by funding curriculum-based family fun nights, field trips, playground equipment and supply stipends for all staff.  In recent years, proceeds have also been used for districtwide programs such as extracurricular foreign language classes and The Food for Thought Project, which helps to eliminate the problem of school lunch debt.

“Although Hillcrest is the smallest school in the district for the third straight year, we have a strong history with an ambitious PTA,” said this year’s volunteer coordinator, Trish Matson Buus. “A successful Hillfest event is vital in continuing to provide these extra educational opportunities for the students.”

Kids will enjoy playing old favorites such as Minnow Races, Hillfest 500 and Toilet Paper Toss. The Cake Walk and Pitch for Prizes continue to be the most popular activities year after year. Back by popular demand is the exciting Soak the Staff game, where players can take aim at the school principal and other staff with water-soaked sponges … all in good fun, of course.

The Hillfest event is open to the public and isn’t just for kids. The Hillfest raffle features dozens of prizes that appeal to people of all ages. Organizers hope that this well-attended community-wide tradition will be as big as ever this year. Lunch, including walking tacos, hot dogs and other snacks, will be available for purchase in the school lunchroom. 

Ticket prices remain unchanged for 2018: just 20 cents per ticket if purchased before April 14, and 25 cents each when purchased during the event. Tickets are needed to play all games, as well as to purchase concessions and raffle chances.

“We are so grateful to the dedicated volunteers and generous donors who make Hillfest happen. We need hundreds of helpers, so we rely on Hillfest families, community members, student groups and service organizations to make it all happen,” Matson Buus said. “We’ve still got a volunteer shortage this year, so we’re asking everyone to help.”

The jobs are easy and fun for individuals or groups. Businesses, church groups or sports teams can even sponsor a game by providing as few as three volunteers for a two-hour shift. 

Students in middle school and older may work independently when they volunteer at the event. Younger students are asked to work alongside a parent or guardian. Volunteers can sign up directly and choose their preferred duty at https://buff.ly/2EiaZNg or call Matson Buus at 692-3100 for more information.

For updates and contests for free Hillfest tickets, stay tuned to the “Hillfest 2018 carnival!” event page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/153253551998751/).

Courtesy photos