BELLEVILLE — On June 18, when daylight lingers and the summer solstice stretches into evening, Valley View Retirement Community will turn its Belleville campus into a place filled with color, laughter and purpose.

The Purple Carnival, held from 1 to 3 p.m., blends the fun of a traditional summer carnival with a mission rooted in compassion — honoring people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, supporting caregivers and helping the wider community understand memory change with empathy.

For years, Valley View has marked the longest day of the year with events tied to The Longest Day, the Alzheimer’s Association’s national day of awareness. This year, the team wanted to build on that tradition in a way that felt more interactive and more inviting for families. The result is the first-ever Purple Carnival, a celebration designed to bring people together across generations.

“Caregiving is a 24-hour job,” said Geli Losch, executive director of memory services and community impact at Valley View Retirement Community. “We wanted to create something that honors that reality while giving families a chance to enjoy an afternoon together.”

Purple, the color of Alzheimer’s awareness, sets the tone for the event. Admission is free, and the carnival is open to everyone — residents, families, team members and the greater community.

Losch said that openness is intentional. Dementia can make families feel isolated or unsure where they belong. The carnival is meant to be a safe space where people can relax, have fun and feel supported.

“We want people to know they don’t have to stay home,” Losch said. “This is a place where they can bring their loved one, enjoy the day and feel understood.”

The carnival will feature a dunk tank, ball toss, petting zoo, carnival games and treats like snow cones and funnel cake fries. Tents will provide shade, and bottled water will be handed out to keep everyone cool. Organizers built the event with comfort in mind, knowing June heat can be challenging for older adults and people with memory change.

What makes the Purple Carnival unique is the active role residents with dementia will play. Losch said that involvement is essential — not only for residents’ sense of purpose but for the community’s understanding of dementia as a lived experience.

“Our residents with dementia will be part of the event,” she said. “It’s important for people to see that they can still participate, still contribute and still enjoy meaningful moments.”

The carnival is also designed to be intergenerational. Families can play games together, and younger visitors can learn how to interact with someone living with dementia in a way that feels natural and comfortable.

“We want kids and teens to understand dementia, not fear it,” Losch said. “Education is a big part of this. When young people learn how to communicate with someone experiencing memory change, it builds a more compassionate community.”

Throughout the event, visitors will find information about dementia-friendly practices, communication tips and ways neighbors can support people living with memory change. Valley View hopes the carnival helps the community see dementia not as something that pushes people away, but as something that calls for understanding and inclusion.

The Purple Carnival also provides important information, such as a new resource for local families: the region’s first Memory Café, launching June 30 at the Juniata Valley YMCA in Burnham. The café will offer a relaxed space for individuals with dementia and their caregivers to gather, share support and enjoy lunch together.

“The Memory Café is another step toward building a dementia-friendly community,” Losch said. “It gives people a place to connect, to feel supported and to know they’re not alone.”

The carnival is meant to counter the isolation that often accompanies dementia. As memory changes progress, families sometimes withdraw from public spaces, unsure how others will react or how their loved one will manage. Valley View hopes the event shows that community can be a source of comfort, not stress.

“People need a safe place to enjoy an afternoon with their loved one,” Losch said. “We want them to know they’re welcome here.”

Valley View Retirement Community is located at 4702 E. Main St. in Belleville. For more information, visit www.vvrconline.org or find Valley View Retirement Community on Facebook.