IOTA — The Town of Iota is preparing for their inaugural Fall Festival next month.
Proceeds from the festival will go into giving the town their first park.
"As far as having just a place for them to go in the afternoon and play a game of basketball with their friends, or to play on the equipment, or for parents to just go walk on a walking path with their children in a stroller, we just don't have that," said event organizer Carrie Leckelt.
Leckelt has lived in Iota for over twenety years, and as long as she can remember, the town has never had a park.
"There's really not much to do, especially for kids, so we have to go to Crowley or Eunice, Jennings," said Iota native Avery Wriborg.
Those concerns started the idea of hosting a fall-themed festival for the town.
"Several of us within the community got together, along with the Iota First Club, and said, 'Hey, let's go for it and see what we can do,'" explained Leckelt.
Guests can expect live musical performances, a jambalaya cook-off, and activities for the kids.
If the festival is a success, the town will be able to start working on the park that will be located on South First Street.
"I do a lot of babysitting here in the community, and I have nieces and nephews growing up here, so to not have to go out of town, to just be able to go right down the road to a park would be fantastic," said Wriborg.
Leckelt says she's already received a lot of positive feedback.
"It's just amazing how our town is coming together for something that's needed."
The Fall Festival will be held at the Veterans Memorial Pavilion from 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. on September 28.
