Join the Fun At WAMJAM

Art, music and family fun will abound at Sunday’s Washington School Art and Music Festival (WAMJAM). In it’s second year, the PTA fundraiser aims to get the entire community out for a day of entertainment and fun.

 “Every year we do one major fundraiser, and that kind of reaches out into the community beyond just the kids and the school,” WAMJAM co-chair Maja Nelson said. “We offer this as kind of a community builder.”

After years of putting on a Renaissance fair, the Washington PTA decided it was time to pump up its fundraising, and WAMJAM was born.

Some goals of the festival include families making memories and having fun and providing an event for the community. However, the main goal is creating a funding resource for important educational programs the state can no longer afford.

“Now, more than ever, the funds for public schools are dwindling,” Nelson, who chaired the event with Sylvia Weiler, said. “So we have to fill that gap somehow.”

She said funds from the event this year are going towards art and music programs—programs that would disappear without PTA support.

In keeping with this theme, the chain link fence outside the school is transformed into a chain link gallery of student artwork. Students made the artwork after school in volunteer-led sessions, as regular art classes are no longer possible.

The festival offers free admission and features lives music, art, food, games, contests and crafts. Revenue comes from a silent auction and online wine auction, sponsorships and tickets for food and games.

In a new twist, radio station Movin’ 99.7 will broadcast live from the event, as well as keep the day moving with more music and games like name that tune.

Nelson said the entire school came together—teachers, parents and students—in putting together the event.

“The most inspiring thing about this fest is that we’ve got teachers going together with parents to have fun and raise money at the same time for some really amazing programs,” Nelson said.

WAMJAM takes place Sunday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washington Elementary School.