NILES — Food, carnival-style games and face painting are just a few of the activities the special needs community can find at the inaugural Sundapalooza!

The Niles Elks Lodge will host and sponsor the event from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, at the Niles Elks Lodge, 1322 Canal St.

The event is free and open to the special needs community and their families or caretakers. Residents of both southwest Michigan and northern Indiana are invited. In addition to carnival-style games, there will also be food and an open mic night. Participants can also attend an instrument workshop and listen to live music by the Deep Fried Pickle Project.

Julie Clark, the chairman of the board of directors at the Elks, said club members recognized a need in their community to offer more community activities for those with special needs. She credits Dianna Baker for coming up with the idea for Sundapalooza! Baker is the co-chair of Niles Elks Sunday Funday and together, Clark and Baker decided to make the event a reality.

“Diana saw a video about a special needs carnival and we said, ‘why couldn’t we do that?’” Clark said. “We are touting it as are big carnival. There will be ring tosses and … prizes, bingo, food and face painting.”

Clark said Sundapalooza! Is intended to be an extension of another event the Elks host, called Sunday Funday. Clark and Baker began Sunday Funday last year and it takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month. During Sunday Funday, members of the special needs community are invited to take part in numerous activities, like painting pots, creating tie-dye shirts or Christmas cards.

Baker said they hoped the event would give those with social needs a chance to socialize with their peers through activities designed just for them.

“Individuals in the special needs community are no different than any of us looking for an opportunity to get out, have some fun and make friends,” Baker said. “It can be challenging for family and caregivers to find situations that work for them. We thought this was something we could help with.”

Since beginning Sunday Funday, about 30 to 40 members special needs community members have been visiting the Elks Lodge to participate. Both Baker and Clark said they thought Sundapalooza! would be an ideal way to cap off the summer and could potentially help them to spread the message about Sunday Funday, drawing in even more members of the community.

Mike Lepel, the exalted ruler of Niles Elks #1322, said Sunday Funday and Sundapalooza! emphasize what the club is all about.

“[This is] members identifying a need in the community and deciding, as a group, that we want to help,” Lepel said. “In this situation, I like to think that we are helping shine a light on the needs of this segment of our community. We hope everyone in southwest Michigan or northwest Indiana will spread the word so that our friends will come and enjoy an event designed specifically for them.”

If any special accommodations are needed, requests can be made by contacting Baker. For sponsorship information, contact Julie Clark. Both can be reached at the Niles Elks Lodge (269-683-0133) or via email at sundayfundaynileselks@gmail.com.