CLUTE, Texas — Hundreds of people came together at Clute Park on Sunday, July 12, to support the family of Skarlett Patton during a community benefit filled with music, auctions, food, children’s attractions and visible reminders of the young girl whose family the event was organized to help.
The crowd was already growing when the event began around 11 a.m. At its busiest point, roughly 200 people appeared to be gathered at the park at one time, with additional attendees coming and going throughout the afternoon.
Photographs of Skarlett were displayed prominently in front of the DJ booth, keeping the purpose of the benefit at the center of the day’s activities.
The event opened with Kacey Roman singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the crowd.
A dunk booth began operating around 11:40 a.m., with members of the Clute school police and other participants taking turns in the seat while attendees tried to send them into the water.
Despite hot temperatures and clear skies for most of the day, families continued arriving and participating in the event. A light sprinkle began near the end of the afternoon, but the crowd carried on as though little had changed.
Music, reptiles and family attractions draw crowds
Singer and pianist Catie Pearl performed an extended set for attendees, including renditions of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “A Thousand Miles,” “Don’t Stop Believin’” and other songs.
Members of the crowd clapped and sang along during the performance.
Several family attractions also operated as planned, including bounce houses, a car show and a reptile exhibit presented by Jurassic Giants.
The reptile attraction appeared to be one of the day’s biggest draws, attracting children and adults who gathered for an up-close look at the animals.
Businesses and organizations participating in the event included Jurassic Giants, Titas Snow Cones, Clarisa’s Desserts, Bleu Belle Creations, Mimi’s Small Shop, Firecracker Salsa, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Chuco’s Tacos and Southern Rise Sourdough and More.
Judge Randy Smith and Lake Jackson Mayor Rhonda Seth were also among the local officials seen attending the benefit.
Auction brings major bids and repeated donations
The silent auction ended around 2 p.m., giving way to a live auction featuring hog-hunting trips, custom-made picnic tables, a barbecue pit and other donated items.
One trip reached a bid of approximately $3,500. Organizers then announced that two trips would be provided if both bidders agreed to purchase one, allowing the benefit to raise money from both offers.
Another moment highlighted the giving spirit behind the event when a bidder purchased an item and then donated it back to the auction, allowing it to be sold again and generate additional support for the Patton family.
Direct donations were also accepted during the benefit.
The event was organized by Danny Duke as a way to bring the community together and provide financial support to Skarlett’s family.
Skarlett’s relatives attended the event, surrounded by volunteers, local businesses and community members who spent the day showing their support.
Following the benefit, Levi Patton thanked those who attended and helped make the event possible.
“Thank you everyone for showing up today and a huge thank you to all that volunteered/helped make this day special,” Patton wrote in a Facebook post.
A final fundraising total had not been publicly confirmed at the time of publication.
Even without an official attendance count, the steady crowd, active auctions and strong participation from local residents and businesses showed how widely the effort to support Skarlett Patton’s family had reached.
What began as a fundraiser became a broader display of community support, with attendees giving their time, money, products and services to help a local family during an extraordinarily difficult time.