EmpowerKids Foundation and The SPOT are teaming up to host a FriendsGiving Festival Saturday, Nov. 16, that includes an adaptive color walk for children in the morning and a late afternoon gathering with live music and a planned chili cookoff that could garner the first-place winner a $1,000 prize.

The festival is a celebration of community and inclusivity, designed to support both EmpowerKids and The SPOT while providing a fun experience for families with children of all abilities, said Michelle Schultz, president of EmpowerKids Foundation.

A nonprofit organization, The SPOT seeks to bring together special needs families to create a safe place for them to connect, serve and grow in the community. EmpowerKids, a separate organization, is a needs-based equipment fund for families of children with disabilities who require extra assistance in obtaining equipment not covered by insurance.

This is the first big event and fundraiser planned by the two organizations, which often work together to meet children’s needs in the community, Schultz said.

The Nov. 16 two-part inclusive celebration will begin in the morning with Harvest Fest to be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience on Front Street.

The event will open with an adaptive color walk to be held in two waves between 9-10 a.m. The first group will start at 9 a.m. and will be for younger children. The second group will begin a half hour later and will be for teens and adults, Schultz said.

The walk will begin at the entrance to The MAX at the corner of 22nd Avenue and Front Street and go for one block to the intersection in front of Mia’s Cafe. Parents or assistants are welcome to walk with the children.

As they walk the block, willing participants will be showered in colored powder like typical color runs, Schultz said. Each participant in the walk will receive a medal.

Afterward, participants can make their way into The MAX courtyard where they will find yard games, bounce houses, food trucks, sensory friendly music and resource vendors.

“With Harvest Fest, our goal is to provide a free, sensory-friendly event that is welcoming to all families because we want to remove the barriers that keep families who have children with sensory processing sensitivities from coming to downtown events,” Schultz said. “We want to bring together our special needs community and the community for a day of fun for all families.”

Harvest Fest is free and open to the public. Pre-registration for the color walk is recommended and can be made by visiting the FriendsGiving Festival: Harvest Fest and Chili Cookoff Facebook page and clicking on the link to sign up.

Later in the afternoon, a FriendsGiving gathering will get underway at 3 p.m. at Singing Brakeman Park, located on Front Street next to the Meridian Railroad Museum. Organizers are working to plan an array of activities with Coyote Hills Equine Rescue slated to be on hand with their mini horses. County music favorite Daniel Houze will headline the afternoon with local musician Grayson Culpepper also performing.

The evening gathering is designed more as a fundraiser with a chili cookoff planned, Schultz said.

Any community resident who believes they have the perfect chili recipe is encouraged to sign up and test their luck. Local businesses, community organizations, churches, schools and other nonprofits are also encouraged to participate in support of EmpowerKids and The SPOT, she said.

Participating teams can consist of up to four members. With a $250 entry fee, each member of the team will receive an apron, disposal items for cooking and serving, a free drink ticket for the evening and bragging rights for the next year if they win the cookoff.

The cookoff will be divided into two categories, traditional (no beans) and homestyle (with beans), and teams must prepare five gallons of their chili, Schultz said.

The first-place winner of each of the two categories will win a $1,000 cash prize with second place in each category earning $300. Trophies will be presented to the team chosen as the People’s Choice winner and for the Team Spirit award.

Teams interested in entering the chili cookoff have until Friday, Nov. 8, to sign up on the FriendsGiving Festival: Harvest Fest and Chili Cookoff Facebook page by following the registration link or scanning the QR code.

For those planning to attend the FriendsGiving celebration at Singing Brakeman Park, tickets can be purchased prior to the event for $15 by following the Facebook link or they will be available for $20 at the gate. Ticket holders can visit the team chili booths to receive samples and vote on their favorite for People’s Choice.

All proceeds raised from the FriendsGiving celebration will pass through the Community Foundation of East Mississippi to support initiatives of EmpowerKids and The SPOT. Schultz also said wheelchair accessible buses will be available to transport families from parking areas to the event destinations throughout the day.