Center Point Church-sponsored 10th annual Kids Fest beats the rainstorm
They call it Kids Fest – but, in reality, the participating youngsters are feted in a kids’ “feast” – a feast of fun activities, free meal, prizes and a backpack chock full of all the items they need to get off to a great start to a new school year.
Last year, the rains washed out all of the fun activities in Mountain Lake City Park, although the hot dog meal and distribution of empty backpacks ready to be plumped up through the packing of all essential supplies needed for the school year, were held at the event sponsor, Center Point Church of Mountain Lake.
In 2017 – the 10th annual – morning rains today (Friday, August 18) gave way to sun poking through in between clouds in the afternoon – but – with the potential (which did come to fruition in early evening) of thunderstorms.
The executive decision was made to bump up the start time of Kids Fest from 3 p.m. to 1 p.m., and run as much of the fun as possible in city park, before moving to Center Point for the backpack-filling.
And – all scheduled events for the “fest”ivities, a prelude to the school year, were celebrated.
In city park, the free event featured a spread for children preschool age-through-6th grade. Activities included a Dunk Tank, a couple of Bounce Houses, Wrecking Ball Inflatable Bounce Game, Inflatable Bounce Slide, Inflatable Bounce Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Water Balloon Fight, Gaga Ball and Prize Giveaway.
As in prior years, kids were offered a free meal and a chance to cool down with a snow cone. Adults and those over the age of 6th grade could purchase the meal of hot dog, chips and beverage for a small fee.
This year, 300 kids participated. The soon-to-be students, along with other family members, filled the downtown square-block park.
While significantly organized, volunteer-staffed, and paid for by Center Point Church, this event would not be possible without the generous support of dozens of local businesses and individuals from the community.
Center Point Pastor David Savage extends “thanks” to all of the volunteers and business and individual sponsors for another successful Kids Fest.
Below is a photo gallery from this year’s event:
REGISTERING FOR KIDS Fest. Center Point Church volunteer Pat Jordan, left, assists Kristin Pfeiffer register her children, Miles, back; Heidi, front and Ashlyn, right. Each participant received an orange wristband.
LUCY PENNER HAS a beaming smile has she bounces her way down the Inflatable Bounce Slide.
FOUR COMPETITORS SQUARE off at the Wrecking Ball Inflatable Bounce Game.
FACING EACH OTHER in a challenging game of Giant Jenga in the Gazebos are Samantha Rivera, left and Claudia Garza-Salazar, right.
KIDS ENJOYED DANCING among the bubbles burped out by the bubble-maker machine.
COUSINS MICAH FAST, left and Sam Fast, right, join forces as a duo in a hot game of ball toss. All of the activities in-and-around the gazebo were supported by Edward Jones-Chad Klassen.
BOUNCE HOUSES DOMINATE the center of city park – one for those preschool age -to-grade two, the other for grades 3-6. They were sponsored by Bargen Inc. and KTM Seeds.
BRAXTON BROWN (IN case you didn’t recognize him with his mustache disguise) works on a name tag at a booth sponsored by Fulda Area Credit Union-Mountain Lake Branch.
AFTER THE KIDS completed their name tags, Christina Hanson of the Fulda Area Credit Union sends them through heavy-duty plastic laminator to permanently protect them.
FOLLOWING THAT, A plastic tie is attached, allowing the tag to eventually be connected to a new backpack.
UNITED PRAIRIE BANK featured a Face Painting Booth. Above, Brynlee Morey, right, gets an ice cream cone – with a cherry on top – painted on her right cheek, courtesy of Michala Morin, left.
WHEN THE SUN peeked its bright yellow face out from between the clouds in the afternoon, Andres Vetsouvanh was ready with some shade.
BENTLEE STAHL PEEKS his head out of the tunnel as he makes his way through the Inflatable Bounce Obstacle Course.
AFTER THE TUNNEL comes the climbing wall, and Tyson Ysker makes short order of this obstacle.
IT WAS A curve ball, but Austin Janzen, front, hits the target to send Miss Mountain Lake 2017 Jae Faber into the Dunk Tank.
NEXT UP IN the tank was Austin’s dad, Pastor Nathan Janzen of Community Bible Church – sporting a multi-colored new do.
CENTER POINT VOLUNTEER David Korns, right, makes quick work in filling balloons for the Water Fight with this attachment.
PREPPING FOR THE battle.
HAVING GOOD AIM and a strong throwing arm – and the ability to dodge incoming – is a necessity in having a successful Water Fight.
IT WAS HOT in the Gaga Ball arena between Thavien Xayachak, left and Devyn Rempel, right. At back are Aiden Holmberg, left and Johny Lopez Lopez, right.
NOAH HOLMBERG, AT right, demonstrates a perfectly-done Gaga Ball avoidance move, as Joey Faber, left, slaps the ball his way. At center back, watching the confrontation, is Devyn Rempel.
VALENTINA TROCHEZ MUNCHES on her hot dog.
ELYZA BULLER, FRONT, claims a volleyball from the Prize Giveaway Table. Country Pride Co-op True Value Hardware, along with donors, provided the prizes. At back is Pastor David Savage.
THE KIDS FEST crowd (at least what the camera could capture) gathers around the Mountain Lake City Park Bandstand for the prize giveaway.
KIDS AT HEART. A pair of residents from the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake -Village arrived via tandem bike to soak in the atmosphere. The residents include Khoune Amphai, left and Evelyn Ray, right. Their trip is made courtesy of the pedal power of Good Samaritan Activities Director Cindy Quiring, back. At left, Khon Vilaiphone stops to visit, and later brings her cadre of nieces and nephews over to greet the women.
BOYS BACKPACKS TO the left.
GIRLS BACKPACKS to the right. Harlie Krueger, right, makes her stylish selection. The backpacks and the necessary school supplies to stuff them with were picked up at Center Point Church.
SUPPLY TABLES IN the church hallway, aligned by grade level, are spread with all the needed items for a new school. Above, Center Point Church volunteer Jamie Morin assists.
