It’s been 15 years since Arroyo Grande dancer Samantha Michelle Ford passed away after her third battle with cancer, yet she continues to inspire new generations of performers with her dedication to dance and her indomitable spirit. Every year, SamFest takes place to raise money for dance scholarships at the Studio for the Performing Arts. This year’s event is on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Heritage Park (201 Nelson St.; 1 to 4 p.m.; all ages; free).
“SamFest 2025 will be an afternoon of friends and community members enjoying live entertainment outdoors and honoring the legacy of Samantha Ford, all while raising funds for a good cause,” organizers announced. Expect vendors, food and drinks, balloon animals, face painting, and raffle drawings.
Sam’s leg was amputated at age 13 to lessen the risk of bone cancer reoccurring, yet she continued to dance with a prosthetic leg. In a 2006 interview, she said, “God has made me strong in order to help others who are weak. I hope that I inspire people to live their lives to the fullest because you never know what will happen to you.”
She was just 24 when she died. A portion of the proceeds will go to Mission Hope Cancer Center at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital. Learn more at rememberingsamford.com. ∆
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 9 2025.