Region I Special Olympics Family Festival (SOFF)

What is the Special Olympics Family Festival?

Each September, Consolidated Communications employees, family members and community volunteers host the Special Olympics Family Festival (SOFF) for Special Olympics Illinois athletes from east central Illinois. It’s an exciting day filled with fun, food, music, entertainment and non-competitive games on the grounds of Lake Land College.

From its beginnings with just a few hundred Special Olympic athletes and volunteers, SOFF now attracts nearly 600 Special Olympic athletes and almost 1,200 volunteers who run the games, serve lunch or act as friends-for-a-day for the Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics Family Festival invites athletes from Region G, H, I, J, and K to attend a day with family and new friends while enjoying sports-style games, Healthy Athletes resources, dancing, singing, food, entertainment, and more.

Facility Information

Lake Land College, located at 5001 Lake Land Blvd, in Mattoon, IL. The west building is utilized for volunteer check-in, the fieldhouse will be used for athlete/team check-in, and east parking lot and grounds for all activities, events, and lunch.

Event Details:

A certified Class A coach must be on the grounds at all times during the Special Olympics Family Festival. Coaches also must provide the Athlete with lunch if the Athlete is unable to consume the lunch provided (e.g. allergies).

Participation ribbons are provided to each athlete who attempts and/or plays a sport game or activity. A SOFF Athlete’s Participation medal is also awarded to each Athlete during the Closing Ceremony event.

SOFF Day-of Schedule:
• 7:00 -9:00 AM – Volunteer check-in
• 8:00 -10:00 AM – Athlete check-in and entertainment
• 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Parade and Opening Ceremony
• 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM – Sports games, activities, entertainment, and lunch
• 1:30 – 2:00 PM – Closing Ceremony
• 2:00 – 3:00 PM- Athlete pick up, volunteer clean up

Volunteers

Please click on the button below to register to volunteer.

Concessions:

Lunch information will be provided soon. Waters will be provided by Heartland Coca-Cola.

Supporting Documents

Click here to view a Special Olympics Family Festival Experience Video from a previous year.

To see a complete list of all state championship competitions, click here.

To find out more information about the Knights of Columbus, who support Special Olympics Illinois throughout the year, click here.

Who We Are

Special Olympics is a global organization that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport, every day around the world. Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and 9,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support.

COVID Procedures

Unless a venue has specific COVID protocols in place, Special Olympics Illinois is following Illinois Department of Public Health and CDC COVID protocols and guidelines. Please refer to event specific information or website page (if applicable) to determine if the venue has any specific COVID protocols. 

Special Olympics Illinois is committed to providing the best athlete, volunteer, coach and supporter environment possible. While we are excited to resume in-person events, the health and well-being of our constituents remains our top priority. All of our in person events follow the COVID-19 recommended IDPH and CDC guidelines. 

Please review the COVID High-Risk fact sheet for more information:

https://www.soill.org/wp-content/uploads/2-High-Risk-Fact-Sheet-7.9.20.pdf