Elevation Community School adds Fiat 500 raffle to Jacksonville fall festival

Elevation Community School is hosting a free pumpkin patch and Fall Festival at 2636 New Berlin Road in Jacksonville from Oct. 15-31, with a main event on Oct. 24. The school and Autoland Jacksonville are drawing attention with a Fiat 500 raffle, live music and family activities that aim to make the seasonal celebration more accessible to local families.

Why it matters: - The free event gives Jacksonville families an affordable fall outing with activities that do not require admission spending. - The Fiat 500 raffle adds a high-profile draw that could boost attendance and fundraiser participation. - The festival also supports a school-led community gathering tied to faith, family involvement and local charity.

What happened: - Elevation Community School is hosting a pumpkin patch and Fall Festival at 2636 New Berlin Road in Jacksonville, the former campus of Spirit of Life Lutheran Church. - The pumpkin patch runs daily from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - The main Fall Festival Day is Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Admission is free. - Autoland Jacksonville is supporting the event with a Fiat 500 for the raffle grand prize.

The details: - Festival activities include live folk instrumental music by local musicians. - Free attractions include games, crafts, photo booths, prizes, a bounce house and hot regular cider. - Train rides will also be offered. - Confirmed vendors include Cup of Jobe coffee cart and Scooters coffee and doughnuts. - Raffle prizes include gift cards from local businesses. - Raffle tickets will be sold from Oct. 15 through Oct. 24. - Souvenir decorative pumpkins will cost $1 to $3. - Standard pumpkins will cost $5 to $25. - The pumpkin patch will be closed on Oct. 31. - Attendees can also return after the main celebration for photo sessions and additional pumpkin souvenirs during the remaining open days.

Between the lines: - Autoland Jacksonville is using the raffle donation as a community-facing sponsorship that extends the dealership’s local visibility beyond car sales. - The event’s emphasis on free entry and low-cost pumpkins suggests the school is trying to keep the celebration accessible for a broad range of families. - Organizers are framing the festival as both a seasonal attraction and a charity-minded community gathering. - Andre Zaharchenya, owner and CEO of Autoland Jacksonville, said the dealership is proud to support an event that brings families together and makes fall festivities accessible to everyone.

What's next: - Families can visit the pumpkin patch throughout October and enter the raffle before Oct. 24. - The school will draw attention to the grand-prize Fiat 500 during Fall Festival Day. - Visitors will still be able to attend for seasonal activities until the patch closes on Oct. 31. - Autoland Jacksonville and Elevation Community School are positioning the event as a recurring community tradition.

The bottom line: - Jacksonville families get a free fall festival, and one raffle winner gets a Fiat 500.