Key Points
- More than 1,000 people attended Central Florida Preparatory School's fall festival on Oct. 23 in Apopka, featuring activities like a chili cook-off and petting zoo.
- Alicia Minott won first place in the chili cook-off while Adriana Reyes received the People’s Choice Award at the festival.
- The event featured unique attractions including a mechanical shark and a petting zoo that had a baby kangaroo.
Chili cooks competed for bragging rights, but community was the main attraction at Central Florida Preparatory School’s annual fall festival.
More than 1,000 people attended the Oct. 23 celebration at the school’s Marden Road campus in Apopka, enjoying activities ranging from a chili cook-off to a mechanical shark and a petting zoo.
The festival gave members of the school community an opportunity to see one another and connect, according to Alba Reyes, the school’s director of admissions.
“The highlight is the community,” she said.
Reyes, who had worked at the school for less than a year, described the festival as “the most talked-about event.”
More than 80 staff members helped operate festival stations. Attractions included bounce houses, vendors, raffles and a school “jail.” The petting zoo even featured a baby kangaroo.
In the chili cook-off, Alicia Minott of Leeci’s Garden of Goodness won first place. Flor Lightner of Bacon Me Crazy placed second, and Yriana Julio-Garnichaud of Panela of My Heart took third.
Adriana Reyes of Luchi’s Chili won the People’s Choice Award, selected by festival guests.
Judges scored entries on appearance, aroma, texture and consistency, flavor and balance, spice and finish, and overall impression.
