Southern Highlands holds Fall Festival, run

More than 2,500 attendees visited Goett Family Park Oct. 27 for the Southern Highlands Annual Fall Festival and 5K Run. The event, presented by the Southern Highlands Golf Club Charitable Foundation and co-sponsored by Greenstreet Properties and Southern Highlands Development, raised more than $165,000, easily surpassing the previous year's total.

All proceeds from the day-long event benefited Boys Hope Girls Hope and the Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada.

"We're amazed by the overwhelming support this event has received from the community," said Shelley Caiazzo, director of marketing for Southern Highlands. "Every year more and more people turn out to have a good time, enjoy the season and raise money for a wonderful cause. We couldn't ask for a better result."

The day began with a 5K run, which was started by baseball legend Wally Joyner, and a 1-mile fun walk. More than 700 runners and walkers turned out for the morning trek through the community.

Jose Casillas of Henderson won the race with a time of 16 minutes, 11 seconds.

Carly Stucky of Las Vegas finished first among the women with a time of 19:27. Each first-place finisher took home a $500 prize.

Following the race, the Fall Festival offered children's costume contests, trick-or-treating, rock-climbing wall, face painting, games and bounce houses.

The adults enjoyed live entertainment, bingo competitions and barbecue.

A variety of raffle prizes, including a Papillon Helicopters tour of the Grand Canyon and a 32-inch flat-screen Vizio TV courtesy of Creative Touch Interiors, were given away.

In the end, every family walked away with a free pumpkin from the pumpkin patch sponsored by Alessi Trust and Breslin Builders.