SACtacular block party celebrates the college’s role in the community.
By Patricia McGlamory
pmcglamory@student.alamo.edu
Remember growing up with family block parties, the smell of popcorn and cozying up to a good movie?
SACtacular, a free evening of family fun, invited the college community and neighbors to do just that Oct 4.
Plans are already in the making for next year, Dr. Alice Johnson, dean of learning resources, said today.
Live music by Colao filled the air in the mall, while a mother danced with her young daughter and an array of people relaxed in chairs or stopped to rest along the stone walls.
Families stopped to pose for photos in front of lowrider cars and enjoy treats sold by about 10 student clubs.
The evening ended with a free movie, “Despicable Me 2,” in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center, drawing a crowd leaving standing room only in a room designed for a maximum capacity of 218 people.
SACtacular is the second block party this college has thrown.
The first celebrated the college’s 85th anniversary in 2011and drew an estimated crowd of 800 to 1,000.
This year, SACtacular drew an estimated crowd of 2,000, Martha Castro, learning resources secretary, said Wednesday.
The event was open to the public in the mall and along the brick walkway between Nail Technical and Chance Academic centers.
The purpose of SACtacular is outreach, President Robert Zeigler said Sept. 25, calling it a “neighborhood event” to celebrate good relationships.
The event allows the college to invite the community “to see what we’ve got and what we’re doing,” Johnson said Sept. 16.
Zyanya Wilke brought her family of four to the block party for a fun evening. Wilke, who lives near SeaWorld San Antonio on the city’s Northwest Side, said she heard of SACtacular through a friend employed at this college.
She said her family would come to this event again because, “there are not a lot of family activities in town,” so when there is something fun and