San Diego Comic-Con 2024 saw ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ A.V.A. Fest become a reality, much to the delight of fans there and at home. If you’re wondering what A.V.A. Fest is, don’t worry—we won’t judge you for not knowing, but we might side-eye you because that means you aren’t watching ‘Abbott Elementary.’ Here’s a little background.
A.V.A. Fest first appeared in the second-season episode ‘Festival.’ With Abbott Elementary at risk of being bought by a corporation and turned into a charter school, the self-centered Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) devises a fun fair to raise funds, dubbing it the A.V.A. (A Very Abbott) Fest—a total coincidence, of course. Ava tries to draw in crowds with the promise of a performance by singer Jazmine Sullivan, but even though she doesn’t show up, everyone still has a great time. Charter school head Draemond Winding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) drops by to plead his case but gets booed off the stage by Abbott’s students and parents. The A.V.A. Fest returned in the third-season episode ‘2 Ava 2 Fest,’ where Ava tries to outdo her previous performance by claiming she knows Questlove and has arranged for him to attend. Her staff is skeptical, and they hastily arrange a Plan B, but Questlove indeed shows up and confirms all of Ava’s stories about him.
At Comic-Con, A.V.A. Fest expanded into a full-scale event, standing for ‘A Very Abbott’ Festival. The attractions were all themed around the ABC sitcom and its cast of quirky teachers and staff at an underfunded but beloved inner-city Philadelphia elementary school.
Attractions at A.V.A. Fest
– Abbott Elementary Kitchen: Offering cotton candy.
– Mrs. Howard’s Blessed and Pressed: Featuring exclusive ‘Abbott Elementary’-themed patches.
– Mr. C’s Splash Class: A dunk tank.
– Gregory’s Garden Goofballs: A midway game.
– Ms. Teagues’ Reach for the Stars: A strength-testing game.
– Carnival Rides and Ball Pit
– Replica Facade of Abbott Elementary: Perfect for photo ops in front of the school’s iconic entrance.
After a strike-shortened third season, ‘Abbott Elementary’ is set to return this fall, with A.V.A. Fest possibly making another appearance. Fans will have to wait until October 9 to see the fallout from the finale’s shocking Janine/Gregory kiss.
Laura Lovas, V.P. of Strategic Partnerships and Events at ABC, highlighted the essence of the festival: “A.V.A. Fest is Principal Ava’s vision of the ultimate carnival experience. She doesn’t do any open house; she pulls out all the stops. She brings out all the stars. She is just ready to do things over the top.”
The festival featured a performance by the official Philadelphia Eagles Drumline and had a range of activities for everyone. At the ‘Blessed & Pressed’ tote bag station, inspired by Mrs. Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), guests could customize tote bags with unique patches. The ‘Ms. Teague’s Reach for the Stars’ game tested participants’ strength and lifted their spirits with encouraging messages from the show’s main character, played by Quinta Brunson.
Lovas shared her favorite activity at the fest: “My favorite is the giant yo-yo swing. Ava has to have the biggest ride, and it is so much fun.”
Catch up on all of Ava’s antics on ‘Abbott Elementary,’ now streaming on Hulu. Watch a snippet of A.V.A. Fest below.
