By Anna Skinner
The Zionsville Lion’s Club annual Fall Festival attracts people of all ages with its carnival, Lions Lounge and other activities, but the gazebo at Lions Park is specifically reserved for teens from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 12.
The Leo Palooza will provide a drug- and alcohol-free safe party for teens with a DJ and a light and sound show.
The teen night event is named after the Alpha Leo Club, a group of 12-18 year olds that participates in service projects and often partners with the Lions Club. Many Alpha Leo Club members will be at the festival doing volunteer work.
“We try to put some fun things out for the kids. There’s going to be a wanted poster that people can put their faces in and take pictures of,” said Michelle Shepherd, Alpha Leo Club lead advisor.
The carnival will be open during that time as well and is close by, and many kids go back and forth between the two events.
The Alpha Leo Club will use this time as a type of recruitment, said Tim Reinhart, Fall Festival chair.
“It’s another avenue of entertainment,” Reinhart said. “There’s security so it’s a safe area. It should be fun and a little different than our Sunday night concert lineup, and (the kids) basically get to know the Leo Club and understand the things they do for the community and the Lions Club.”
Leo Palooza is sponsored by the town of Zionsville and the Zionsville Police Department. According to Reinhart and Shepherd, the area will be monitored to keep all the kids safe. There is no fee for Leo Palooza.
“It’s a good way for (the kids) to get involved and maybe do some community service,” Reinhart said.
Read more about the Zionsville Fall Festival here.
