RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Summerfest celebrated its 25th anniversary with a lively carnival and country fair that took over Stonehouse Park from Oct. 2 to 4.

Although rain threatened the festivities on Thursday, it cleared in time for the sponsor gala, and beautiful weather prevailed on Friday and Saturday.

Summerfest is Rancho Murieta’s second-largest community event of the year, surpassed only by the Fourth of July celebration.

Sherry Carrillo, president of the all-volunteer committee that has organized Summerfest since 1999, said she’s amazed by how the event has endured and grown over the years.

“I mean, it started with a chili cook-off and a rock wall, and now it is a carnival that is well loved by the entire community,” she said. “I have little kids saying, ‘Thank you. This is my favorite holiday.’”

Setting up a full-fledged carnival inside the gates makes Summerfest both unique and extremely convenient for residents. The event featured rides ranging from a merry-go-round and swirling strawberries for younger children to high-velocity attractions like The Zipper for older kids and adults. Along the midway, attendees of all ages tested their skills at a dozen carnival booths, where friendly workers eagerly helped them win colorful prizes.

Summerfest also featured three nights of live music, a lively Bingo game, a poker tournament, a cornhole tournament, a trivia contest, a wine and beer garden, and food trucks offering a variety of dishes, from street tacos to desserts.

Carrillo said the idea is to have something for everyone because Summerfest is truly a community event.

The three-day celebration kicked off Thursday with a wine and dinner gala themed “Dance Like It’s 1999,” drawing about 500 sponsors and their guests.

“My heart was happy to see all the people who embraced the fun theme. More people dressed up than ever,” Carrillo said.

For the first time, the committee brought in a live band for the gala: Fast Times Dance Party. “We did it for our 25th anniversary, and we really wanted to thank our sponsors,” Carrillo said. “The costs have increased so much that we couldn’t do this event without them. They keep the ticket prices down for everyone, and that is huge.”

Raley’s served as this year’s title sponsor for the fourth consecutive year. More than two dozen companies and families joined as additional supporters. Diamond-level sponsors included Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez, Rancho Murieta Homes and Land, Notaries to You, Retirement Security Centers, LGI Homes, The Residences at Murieta Hills, Angel Wing Vineyard, the West Coast Foundation, the Murieta Inn and Spa, and Zeta Broadband.

Summerfest also depends on more than 100 volunteers to make the event possible. In a win-win arrangement, local organizations provide volunteers who earn $10 an hour for their designated cause or charity.

The Pleasant Grove High School Wrestling Team made up the largest group of volunteers. “They are such good kids,” Carrillo said. “They brought sleeping bags and slept at the maintenance yard with their parents so they could work on their biggest fundraiser of the year.”

Carrillo also praised individual supporters, highlighting Travis Glunt, who grew up in Rancho Murieta, and his partner, Quade Cole. The pair drives from Utah each year just to volunteer for the event.

Although Summerfest has always benefited from a strong partnership with the Rancho Murieta Association Maintenance Department, Maintenance Manager Troy Schaffner and his team went above and beyond this year when rain threatened Thursday’s events.

Carrillo said the make-or-break time was 3 p.m., when organizers had to decide whether to move everything inside the tent because of the downpour. She also worried that some rides might have to close as they began sinking into the baseball field. Fortunately, the rain stopped in time.

“The RMA Maintenance team rallied behind me, and every one of them helped roll out the fields, making sure they weren’t getting ruined,” she said. “Every time I looked at them, they were still running around, soaking wet, helping us like crazy.”

Carrillo also praised the RMA Recreation Committee, which schedules one of its four annual bingo games to coincide with Summerfest.

“It really brings in a huge crowd, and it is so much fun,” she said.

She said the cornhole tournament “was super successful,” drawing a big audience after the committee hired a professional company to run it.

“We are not professional cornholers, so it was nice to have them,” she said.

The poker tournament also benefited from professional support, with dealers from a Lodi casino handling the cards and keeping the action organized.

Carrillo said the band that performed on Friday was one of the best yet. Although Adam Aldama & the Aces is a Bruno Mars tribute band, the musicians mixed things up in the second set with dance hits from other artists.

“So there was music for everyone,” she said.

DJ Louie Giovanni returned on Saturday for his second year, and his high-energy sets kept the grassy dance floor packed all night. Carrillo said everyone told her they want him back again next year.

Brass Ring Amusements returned for the fourth year, bringing its popular carnival rides that delighted guests of all ages. Teens lined up for thrill rides like The Zipper and the Wipe-Out, while younger children – often joined by parents or grandparents – flocked to the giant slide, the Dragon roller coaster and the merry-go-round.

Summerfest also featured activities beyond the main carnival to enhance the overall fun. Attractions included bungee jumping, archery tag and a wading pool where kids encased in giant bubbles rolled across the water’s surface.

Carrillo took the stage at the gala to emphasize that this year’s event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of the volunteers and the “incredible” board. Alongside herself, the board includes Kim Doughty, Jake Killian, Chloe Carrillo, Makayla Oei, Desiree Harper and Nona Gunnell.

She gave special recognition to Mike Martl and Sid Williams, who have served on the committee since 1999.

“They, along with other early visionaries, dreamt up this annual event,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine it would become such a great success.”

She also thanked the sponsors.

“Because of your support, we’ve brought things like the splash park, baseball fields, pickleball courts, the lacrosse field and dog park lights,” she said.

“A huge thanks to our title sponsor, Raley’s, for all they bring to the event, and to Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez for supporting our neighborhood,” she added.

Carrillo also acknowledged the RMA Maintenance crew, saying, “You all rock. Thank you.”

Interviewed after the event, Carrillo said the Summerfest Committee works year-round to bring the celebration to life.

“Except for Mike (Martel), who is retired, we all work and then we do this,” she said.

“You really, really have to love our community to be on the board because it’s a love-hate relationship when you’re so exhausted,” she added. “But when I walk around the midway on Saturday night and see all the smiling faces, it’s like, ‘I’m going to do this again next year.’”

Summerfest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More information can be found on its website at summerfest-ranchomurieta.org.