SUMMERDALE, Ala. — Come spend “A Night at the Carnival” at Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy in Summerdale on Friday, March 25 from 4-7 p.m. as they present their 3rd Annual Spring Fling.

Held outside, this free event is a major fundraiser for the HRO (Hurricane Relief Organization-Hurricanes are the school mascot)) and money raised goes toward an Accelerated Reader program and teacher supplies.

“This and the Fall Fest are the biggest fundraisers we have and we made about $3,000 in the Fall and the place was packed out. We hope it’s like that for this event too,” said Smith.

Complete with carnival-type games like a duck pond, bean bag toss, basketball throw and a jump house plus hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, popcorn, snow cones and drinks, Smith said everyone should have a fun time. Prizes like candy, toys and stuffed animals will be available too.

“Each class is responsible for a game booth and providing volunteers to run the booth and so far we have about 30 parents and teachers who are volunteering but I’m sure we will end up with more by the time we have it,” Smith said.

There will also be a bake sale with all kinds of baked goods from the ladies at Summerdale Church of Christ and parents who donate all kinds of cakes, pies, cookies and brownies.

Some of the food is being donated by community sponsors and parents are donating coke products for the event. “We have been very fortunate with our parent and community support and can still use donations of baked goods and 12-packs of coke products,” Smith said.

With planning that began in January, Douglas said they have a different theme every year and this year’s “carnival” theme goes along with the Scholastic Book Fair’s carnival theme so it worked out well.

“We have a Scholastic Book Fair twice a year and it will take place in the library the week of the Spring Fling and students and parents can enjoy the book fair and the Spring Fling. We raised a good bit of money from that and we get to buy books and supplies from Scholastic without that money,” said Smith.

Students also get to take part in a “Pie in the Face” event on Thursday, March 24, where 25 cent tickets are sold and all the teachers participate. The teacher with the most tickets in their bucket at the assembly on Thursday will get smashed in the face with a pie.

“The students love this and it’s their most favorite thing. The teachers don’t know who’s going to get it until we call their name. It’s really fun,” Smith said.

AGCCA is located on the corner of County Road 28 and 71 in Summerdale and can be contacted at (251) 989-2333. They also have a facebook page and website: gccacademy.org.