The iconic Mayfest festival provides more than just a family activity.
The event brings food, music, arts, crafts, games and rides to the roughly 225,000 people who visit the four-day, family-friendly festival from April 30 to May 3. The event also brings in major support for local charities.
Mayfest raises money for the Junior League of Fort Worth, Streams and Valleys and the Fort Worth Parks and Community Services.
“We truly are a non-profit organization, and we work hard to give back to the community,” said Elizabeth Basham, the executive director of Mayfest.
The Junior League of Fort Worth received approximately $56,000 from last year’s festival. This year, they will put $40,000 toward Junior M.I.N.T.S. and Kids in the Kitchen.
The M.I.N.T.S. acronym stands for Mentoring, Inspiring, Nurturing, Tutoring and Supporting. The Junior League provides mentoring, reading buddies and a clothing closet for the students at four FWISD campuses.
Kids in the Kitchen is a health education event for children and their families to learn how to eat healthier, exercise more and stay hydrated through fun activities.
“How wonderful that Mayfest very strategically utilizes their proceeds to make lives better for the children and families of North Texas through this type of support,” said Paige Pate, the president of the Junior League. “The Junior League shares such a rich history with Mayfest, and we are very proud to continue supporting their mission at the festival each year.”
Mayfest also funds areas of Trinity Park. This year a large portion will go back to new shelters, lighting throughout the park and continuing the Share the Trail campaign.
“We need to celebrate what Fort Worth has and that is what Mayfest is all about while giving back to the community,” Basham said.
However, not all aspects of the festival are positive.
With 200,000 people expected to be in the Trinity Park area over the course of four days, traffic and parking is expected to be an issue at times, said Emily Allison, the marketing manager of Mayfest.
Along with its 2,000 volunteers, 40 police officers will be there to regulate traffic and ensure safety for people on the 33 acres of the festival grounds.
“I don’t think it will be any more of a problem than it has been in the past,” Allison said.
“We work very closely with NTAA and TxDOT to alleviate the areas that might cause problems, but we are working diligently to ensure that all lanes are open on University and I-30,” Basham said.
Mayfest officials suggest checking the weather beforehand and wearing comfortable shoes.
Visit www.mayfest.org for the most up-to-date information relating to weather, traffic concerns, parking, attractions and entertainment.