by Shawn Nowlin
One of Roanoke’s most anticipated yearly events returned on Oct. 18. The Melrose Fall Festival began last Saturday at 11 a.m., and lasted for more than three hours.
The near picture-perfect weather brought people out in droves. More than 20 local organizations, including Roanoke City Libraries, were present to provide community resources and answer questions. There were free books, candy, food, face painting, music and pumpkins too.
“As members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., we are here to be part of the community. We want to make sure that people are aware of everything that we provide, from scholarships to youth programs. We also have something called ‘Y.L.I.’ which stands for Youth Leadership Institute,” Dr. Cleopatra Kitt said.
She added, “We work with the school systems to make sure our youth know there’s people in the community who support them. We always want parents to know that if they need something, we are here as resources.”
Cresha Townsend, a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., later said, “We were formed over 100 years ago to be a community-conscious, action-oriented organization. Today, we are here to spread awareness about Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
The free festival has become a true treat for the Roanoke community. Several people came with their young children, including Mya Walker. She attended the festival for the first time with her two daughters, six-year-old Lacey and four-year-old Kapri.
“The Melrose Fall Festival provides a perfect opportunity for people to take advantage of free resources, enjoy music, catch up with friends and support local artisans,” Walker said. “It warmed my heart to see my daughters having so much fun. When fall comes around, I’ll know this amazing event is just a few weeks away.”
Attendees Aaron and Crystal Smith were impossible to miss. Dressed in Shrek and Princess Fiona outfits, respectively, the married couple brought their parents with them to the festival.
“You often hear people say that there is nothing to do in Roanoke. I couldn’t disagree more,” Aaron said. “Events like this provide great opportunities for residents. When mom and dad heard Zhane and other classic songs being played over the speakers, they started dancing like they were back in high school. It was adorable. We got several compliments on our outfits.”
Because of city construction obligations, last year’s fall festival was cancelled. All signs point to the event returning next October.
