Fall Festival Set for Saturday, September 25!

Throughout the year, the EHS Multicultural Club celebrates the many groups that make up our school community, facilitating a sense of togetherness through events that highlight the customs and traditions from around the globe that make Eastchester such a vibrant place to raise a family.  

From 2-5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, the Multicultural Club will hold its long-running Fall Festival, an event that embodies how the Eastchester community is ultimately strengthened by those who inhabit it.

The Fall Festival has been a hit with Eastchester families for over a decade, filled with food, music, and games that speak to the many backgrounds of Eastchester residents while bringing people together. Various clubs and student groups will be running their own tables on Saturday, and activities will include foods from around the globe, games like Dominican Dominos, and special performances from students demonstrating Albanian dance.  

“When we think about ‘culture’ this event really hones in on the culture of Eastchester,” said Ann Bohringer, who serves as the Multicultural Club Co-Advisor with Alanna Staples. “It’s very much about our clubs showcasing their talents and interests. It really encompasses the different cultures and the groups of kids in Eastchester and what they like to do.” 

The festival also features the always-popular “Pie-a-Teacher” event, which sees students line up for a chance to pelt fearless educators with a creamy dessert, something Multicultural Club Vice President Elena Cakoni said is sure to be one of the highlights of the day. 

“I participated in this event last year,” laughed Cakoni. “It’s a chance for teachers to connect with the kids, spending time together and also making it fun.”

This year, proceeds from the event will go towards the family of retired EHS teacher Ed Gruber, who was hospitalized after a traffic accident earlier this summer. As the Eastchester community continues to rally around Gruber and his loved ones, events such as the Fall Festival help to highlight the immense impact that Gruber has had on students and faculty members alike over the course of his 35 years of service to the district. 

“Ed has been a pillar of this event, helping out every single year,” said Bohringer. “He’s always volunteered for it, he’s helped us chaperone cleanups, he’s the first person to sign up for Pie-a-Teacher, he’s always done whatever gets the kids going to these events, whatever gets the kids doing something that is good for the school, so it just felt right to take this event, which he’s been so ingrained in, and raise the money for him and and his family.”

“Mr. Gruber has made such a positive impact on so many students and he has been such an important part of our Eastchester community for many years,” added Multicultural Club President Elianna Acevedo. “Being able to give back to someone who has given so much to our school makes this event even more meaningful and special.”

Although the Fall Festival is generally an outdoor event, reports of an impending nor’easter have prompted the Multicultural Club to move Saturday’s festivities to the EHS Cafeteria, something that Bohringer said should have little to no impact on the day.

“We always hope for a nice, sunny day, but it will be exactly the same as if we held it outdoors,” said Bohringer. “We definitely want the younger kids, the elementary schoolers, to come out to this event and to strengthen the idea that everyone belongs in the Eastchester community.”