On Feb. 28, 2026, LakewoodAlive hosted its circus-themed fundraiser, “Cirque de Lakewood: A Loving Lakewood Spectacular.” During this event, there were a multitude of circus-themed games, performances, and attire. Attendees were dressed up as magicians, rabbits in hats, and other circus favorites.
Julie Warren, president of LakewoodAlive, has led these events for 12 years.
“This event tonight is called Loving Lakewood, and it’s a different theme every year. We started this back in 2014,” Warren said.
This event has become a staple in the community, a major fundraiser for LakewoodAlive. The proceeds benefit LakewoodAlive’s programming, which ranges from community festivals to housing outreach.
“This event supports LakewoodAlive, which is a nonprofit organization, community-centered,” Warren said. “And it supports special events in Lakewood, like the Spooky Pooch Parade and Light Up Lakewood. It also supports our housing outreach efforts as well as small businesses.”
One business, for example, is Stem, a locally owned handsoap shop run by Dave Willett and Steve Meka. Willett sees these events as a huge support and a great opportunity for connection.
“It’s a great networking opportunity for a business owner, plus it just solidifies the support that the Lakewood community has for small businesses and LakewoodAlive, which supports small,” Willett said.
He noted that LakewoodAlive has been a major help to small businesses across Lakewood and has led to much retention of relationships and connections among business owners. “Absolutely, we’ll be at next year’s event,” Willett added.
According to Warren, the event’s financial impact is long-lasting. “These events’ profits go and will always go directly to LakewoodAlive,” she said.
This event was a unique experience, similar to Lakewood as a whole, and was a wonderful time for all in attendance. For board member Jennifer Wynn, the draw of the evening was the chance to unite for a common cause.
“As a board member, I’m supporting my organization, but honestly, it was the opportunity to get together with a lot of fantastic people and get together with the Lakewood community and do something for a good cause,” Wynn said.
She described LakewoodAlive events as “big parties” that attract people from across the region—an explanation that perfectly illustrates the organization’s projects, such as Light up Lakewood. Wynn further emphasized the amount of behind-the-scenes work that goes into these events.
“I know the back story, and I know what these people do every day out there for their jobs when they’re not planning fantastic parties,” Wynn said. “The number of people in our community that they help, especially the elderly—we have folks who are dealing with bed bug situations and porches that are falling down and plumbing issues, and our team just has done a fantastic job of meeting the needs of the community.”
That’s the beauty of Lakewood: its people-centered focus that unites all its residents and will continue to do so for generations to come. As LakewoodAlive continues to focus on people-centered growth, the organization encourages residents to attend future events to support both the city’s character and its local economy.
