A splash of color

Memories were made at Chelsea Heights Elementary on an October Friday night when the school community came together for the Color Splash and Bonfire Bash.

The Northwest Como Rec Center that’s connected to Chelsea has hosted the fall bonfire for decades and traditionally draws a crowd. Building on that neighborhood fixture, Chelsea staff planned and implemented the inaugural Color Splash to precede the bonfire on Oct. 23, 2026 and create an unforgettable evening.

As it turned out, students running laps around the big block surrounding the school for 12 minutes while their teachers splashed them with color powder at every corner will indeed be tough to forget.

Fifth-grade teacher Alyssa Flaten shared that the idea came to fruition at a staff meeting. “We wanted to create a new and fun event to bring a sense of joy to the start of the school year for our past, present, and future students and families.

“Since we hold our annual school carnival in the spring, we wanted to ensure we had a signature event to celebrate together in the fall, too!”
Mission accomplished.

Hundreds of people gathered on the grass fields in anticipation of the Color Splash start time. Members of the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line drumming in their purple jerseys added to the excitement as students, siblings, alumni and adults prepared for the big moment.

Everyone joined the countdown and the Chelsea Cheetahs took off. Staff and community members cheered them on at every corner with music, bubbles, and plenty of color powder. The goal? Get as colorful as possible. Smiles and laughter were constant.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her addressed the crowd after the run praising the spirit and joy of the community. Then it was time for some extra color splashes, snacks, games and the bonfire.

“We swung for the fences with this idea, hoping to build a tradition that lasts for years to come,” Flaten said.

“Thanks to everything our entire community brings to the table, we were able to showcase what an amazing place Chelsea is to work, learn and grow.”