ANNUAL END OF SUMMER COMMUNITY FESTIVAL

ARIO’s Annual End of Summer Community Festival is our joyful capstone to a season of learning, service, and connection. Neighbors from across the city gather to celebrate youth and families with a full day of music and cultural appreciation, youth showcases, friendly soccer scrimmages, pick-up basketball, arts-and-crafts, and hands-on creativity stations. The festival doubles as a community resource fair where our staff shares vital school-year supports, wellness information, and pathways to enrichment; while we also distributes back-to-school supplies for children and youth so they can step into the new year prepared and confident. Throughout the grounds, welcoming spaces make it easy for families to meet mentors, educators, and community leaders who care.

What began as a one-time community gathering three years ago has grown into a beloved annual tradition, proof of what happens when people show up for one another. The day now spotlights the heartbeat of ARIO’s mission: youth leadership and community empowerment. Attendees can sign up for upcoming programs, leadership opportunities, and volunteer roles, and they’re invited to help shape the workshops and activities they most want to see in the year ahead. We honor the volunteers, parents, educators, and partners whose dedication makes this work possible, and we lift up young leaders ready to enter the school year with pride, purpose, and momentum.

Each year we raise the bar on accessibility and celebration; offering multilingual wayfinding, family-friendly schedules, and inclusive spaces designed for all ages and abilities. The music is louder, the smiles are wider, and the circle of partners grows, bringing new opportunities for school success, creative expression, and community well-being. From the first circle of laughter to the last good-bye, the festival reminds us that when we gather, we grow together. Thank you for making this year unforgettable. See you next year!