LumaFest showcases SRJC campus in Petaluma

The third annual LumaFest happens at Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma Campus on Oct. 14, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Children will be introduced to the excitement of higher education, adults can learn about new and compelling career paths, and all can explore the college’s many academic, cultural and student life offerings. Parking and admission is free. No pets are allowed.

Information on activities, performances and more is available at lumafest.santarosa.edu.

LumaFest is an all-weather, family-friendly open house and community education fair that extends throughout the SRJC Petaluma campus.

Booths will feature hands-on activities, displays, demonstrations, shows, food and fun for the whole family. The variety of booths, performances, and demonstrations offers a diverse taste of education and culture at SRJC Petaluma. There will be a Día de los Muertos celebration, food, live music and dance performances on outdoor stages, and a juried art competition.

Family-friendly activities also include jumpy houses, face-painting, arts and crafts for children, the Family Obstacle Course, Sonoma County Bookmobile and a Sustainability Village. Back by popular demand this year is the Chemistry Magic Show.

Sponsors of this year’s event are Clover Sonoma, Western Health Advantage, Friedman’s Home Improvement, Enso Wealth Management, Rabobank, Tommy Hilfiger, El Día de los Muertos Petaluma and the Petaluma Argus Courier/petaluma360.com.

Yuba Bikes has partnered with the campus on this year’s Raffle and Roll for a chance to win a Boda Boda V2 cargo bike. The winner will be announced at LumaFest, and proceeds will benefit student clubs and sustainability projects.

Attendees can take a tour of one of the most technologically advanced libraries in Sonoma County. There will be a variety of entertainment inside the Carole L. Ellis Auditorium, a lecture hall and cultural space offering a superb acoustic and cinematic experience.

Parents and prospective students, from young children to older adults, can find out about course offerings on the Petaluma campus and register for upcoming classes. They can learn about SRJC Petaluma’s signature programs such as Transfer Track, to help students fast-track their transfer to four-year colleges; Year to Career, which are certificate programs that get students trained for new jobs within a year; and Gateway to College, SRJC Petaluma’s renowned academy for high school students.

SRJC Petaluma’s sustainability classes, outdoor learning labs and gardens and extensive offering of physical fitness courses are also very popular.

Attendees can also meet with faculty, counselors and staff members who will show them how inspiring and affordable college can be. Information will be available on registration, scholarships, financial aid and other assistance to make an SRJC education possible for all.

Demonstrations include Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and much more.

LumaFest is once again partnering with the Petaluma citywide El Día de los Muertos celebration. Events and activities at SRJC Petaluma during LumaFest will include sugar skull decorating, tissue paper flowers, Aztec dancing, Petaluma-based Folklórico Paquiyollotzin, Windsor Bloco youth drumming and dance group, Escolta 05 musica norteño band and hands-on children’s arts and crafts activities.