CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – For Mike Callahan, JackFest is more than a day of races, inflatables and family activities.

It is a way to give back to an organization that helped his family during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.

JackFest returns Sunday, Oct. 18, at Foxfield in Albemarle County. The free, family-focused festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. and raises money for Ronald McDonald House Charlottesville, which provides a home away from home for families whose children are receiving medical treatment in the Charlottesville area.

Callahan, a JackFest planning committee member and member of the Ronald McDonald House Charlottesville board of directors, knows the organization’s mission firsthand.

He is Jack’s father.

When Jack was 3, his family learned he had cancer and began treatment at UVA.

“They did an incredible job, but he needed advanced care up in Philly. So, he went up there and we had to find a place to live and we didn’t know anyone,” Callahan told Cville Right Now. “And so the Ronald McDonald House was there for us. We stayed there for eight months. And now we’re giving back. That’s what JackFest is all about.”

For the Callahan family, the Ronald McDonald House provided more than a place to sleep. It offered meals, support and a community while they navigated their son’s treatment far from home.

“When your world is turned upside down, there’s so many things that get disrupted,” Callahan said. “We had no income. We had nowhere to live.”

That experience is a major reason Callahan continues to support JackFest.

The Charlottesville Ronald McDonald House provides families traveling for medical treatment with a place to stay and a supportive community. The house has 18 private bedrooms and bathrooms, along with kitchens, laundry facilities, meals and shared spaces.

Callahan said JackFest was started by his friends Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni of Ragged Mountain Running Shop and has grown into a major family event.

“I didn’t start it. It was my friends, the Lorenzonis of Ragged Mountain Running Shop, but it’s all about giving back to our local Ronald McDonald House,” Callahan told Cville Right Now.

JackFest has grown beyond what Callahan initially expected.

“I think the community was craving something like this though. It’s not a typical 5K or a typical event that’s more adult focused. It really is family focused,” Callahan said.

JackFest helps support that work while giving local families a chance to enjoy a day together.

Children’s races are a major part of the event. This year’s schedule includes elementary and middle school cross-country races, superhero dashes for children 12 and younger, and a parent-child relay.

Race registration is required, while admission to the festival is free.

Families also can enjoy bounce houses, inflatable slides and obstacle courses, an arts and crafts village, a petting zoo and a truck and emergency vehicle touch.

Food trucks, breweries, wineries and other vendors also will be on site.

Callahan said the festival is primarily geared toward families with children, particularly those ages 5 to 12, but there is something for a wide range of ages.

For families attending for the first time, his advice is simple.

“Be prepared to have more fun than you expect,” Callahan told Cville Right Now.

The event is free because organizers want it to be accessible to everyone. Money is raised through sponsorships, donations, race registrations, food and beverage sales, raffle and silent auction sales and merchandise.

Tiger Fuel has played a major role in supporting the event. Callahan said the company has been JackFest’s presenting sponsor for the past five years.

“Tiger has been our presenting sponsor now for the last five years. Really raised a ton of money for the cause. We’re so thankful for Tiger,” Callahan said.

Customers at The Market by Tiger can also round up their purchases to the next dollar, with the additional money benefiting JackFest and Ronald McDonald House Charlottesville.

“The easiest way to support us is go get a great sandwich and then round up your purchase,” Callahan told Cville Right Now.

That gives people who cannot attend the festival another way to support the cause.

Over the past six years, JackFest has raised more than $150,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charlottesville, according to the event website.

JackFest will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at Foxfield in Albemarle County. More information, race registration and donation options are available at JackFest.net.