Fall Festival, Blazer Bash, and Alumni Weekend Build Connection and Community

Fall Festival was an afternoon of carnival-themed activities, tasty treats, and cross-divisional fun. The day kicked off with morning greetings from Blaze and the Athletic Student Council, who handed out blue-and-white beads to students at the Lower School Gate to build excitement for the upcoming events. That afternoon, students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni flooded the Lower School, Mag and Schuchart Gyms, and Middle School Courtyard, where over thirty booths were scattered throughout.

“The K-12 experience of Fall Festival is such a joyful and beautiful part of our community,” shared Head of School Sarah Smith.

Fall Festival didn’t fall short on choices for amusement, including a bouncy house, potato sack races, and crafting activities such as bracelet-making and paper airplanes. Students noted their personal favorite aspect of the event: 

Oscar P. ’39 shared, “My favorite thing about Fall Festival is bowling,  because I get to roll the ball.”

“I like Fall Festival because you can walk around a bunch of places with your friends and have sweets,” said Ivy S. ’35.

Friday, October 2 concluded with the first Blazer Bash of the year, a seasonal spirit celebration and athletic event organized by the Athletic Student Council and Athletic Department to support the school's sports teams and spark community pride across all divisions. This Blazer Bash featured home games with the Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls Volleyball teams vs. The Bear Creek School, carrying excitement and school spirit into Alumni Reunion weekend.

“Blazer Bash brings the biggest crowd of the year, and everyone gets together to have a good time and prioritize school spirit. The games are fun and competitive; it’s the best night for our staff because we see kids from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade, as well as alumni, who come out to support our athletes,” Associate Athletic Director Erin Saunderson shared.

Parent and guardian attendees were excited to build relationships with new Bush families and see their children revel in the curated festivities around campus.  

“Fall Festival is a great opportunity to connect with parents who you haven’t had a chance to meet; you get to see your kids play with their friends in a way that’s really different from a small play date,” shared Nicole Nishimura, a Bush parent.

Faculty, staff, and alumni recall the humble beginnings of Fall Festival and how it returned full force and remains a highly anticipated day for attendees of all ages. 

“Fall Festival was a long-standing tradition that went away for a while and was brought back by two former students, Emma Dubery ’15 and Anna Nielsen ’15,” shared Lower School Dean of Humanities Julie Barber. “When it came back, it brought all of the divisions together to have fun. And it was great to see the Middle and Upper School students running booths while still enjoying it themselves. My kids look forward to Fall Festival every year, no matter how old they get.” 

Upper School students, faculty, and parent and guardian volunteers cooked and served food and apple cider to Lower School students, painted their faces with fun designs, and facilitated excitement at each game. The connections formed between Lower, Middle, and Upper School students during this community event fostered mentorship, leadership, and a shared sense of belonging. 

Through cross-divisional traditions such as Fall Festival and Blazer Bash, Bush students can engage deeply, build lasting friendships, and cultivate connections.

“This Fall Festival was truly the best one yet,” shared Program Manager Rachel Ladd, who played a huge part in planning and executing the beloved event. “I loved having the Upper School students bring their gifts—the Robotics Team built the remote-controlled cars for the booth, and the Upper School Jazz Band performed live music, which was new this year. It was a fun coming together of the community.” 

Click here to view photos from Fall Festival and Blazer Bash.