Weber’s IGA and Big Park Community School have proven they go as well together as root beer and ice cream.

The Village of Oak Creek grocery store hosted the seventh annual Float Fest on Saturday, Aug. 27. The fundraiser put 100 percent of the money given into teachers’ hands for school supplies and other out-of-pocket expenses common with the profession. The store reported a total of just over $2,000 was donated.

The staple event brought back the classics: Face painting, grilling and a rainbow of floats to choose from.

Located at the entrance, anyone shopping was welcome to come and chat about the new school year.

Stacey Beck handles the community programs at the store and is also a parent of two at Big Park. She said there had been quite a few happy, young — and painted — faces attending familiar to her from the school.

“This store is such an integrated part of the community,” she said. “It’s going to be an exciting school year.”

Excitement was definitely the buzzword, as families got together with other neighbors, happy they still had Big Park to send students to.

Earlier this year, Big Park was on the potential chopping block as the Sedona-Oak Creek School District laid out options for reorganizing the district. The option eventually failed, due to pushback from parents though middle schoolers were designated to a new junior high within Sedona Red Rock High School’s campus.

“It was definitely a lot of ups and downs,” Beck said, but added that the entire community has rallied around the students and teachers. “They’ve been extremely positive.”

Debbie Jones, the new principal at Big Park, was at the event and said the turnout had been great.

Earlier in the day, clouds threatened to rain out the partially outdoor event, but as the day went on, clear skies and a cool breeze swept through.

Jones said that so far, she had spoken to roughly 30 parents, all of whom were supportive of the school year so far, which began Aug. 3.

“We haven’t really been talking shop, we’re all just here to support the school,” she said.

She said the past few weeks had gone well, with both teachers and students visibly excited to get into class.

Beck’s daughter, Ava, could attest to that.

Now in the fourth grade, she said she was worried over the summer for the future of her school, and was relieved to hear it remained open. Now, she said her favorite subjects are reading and writing. She has just started the first of the “Hunger Games” novels, which have had an explosive growth in popularity that included a major film franchise.

Ava Beck wasn’t just there for the floats, either. Like several other students in the upper elementary echelons, she assisted in giving out toys, face painting and even helping man the grill.

Jumping back and forth from station to station, Weber’s IGA owner Jake Weber said he was proud to make a difference in the community.

He said he feels his store has become a community center in the VOC and it was heart-warming to see such an overwhelming turnout of children.

Weber would have a little fun of his own at the face-painting station, where he would tell children once they were done up as kittens and butterflies that “You know that’s permanent.”

Weber said the customers were incredibly generous, and would write out larger checks unsolicited.

“This is a small way we can help,” he said. “It’s going to be a good check for the teachers.”

Going forward, Weber said he plans to stay focused on Big Park’s push to become an International Baccelaureate school.

Weber’s IGA will next participate in the 9/11 memorial, the centerpiece girder having toured through the store before its placement in the Sedona Fire District.

Big Park has a few events coming up as well. The PTSA is heading up a beautification project, during which the community is invited to help weed.

On Friday, Sept. 16, the school will host a family dance from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring Mexican food and a bake sale. The next month there will be a spaghetti dinner.