Seventh-annual Kids Fest held Friday; 250 school supply-filled backpacks distributed
AN OVERVIEW OF Mountain Lake City Park on Friday afternoon, August 1, during the 2014 Kids Fest. The square block was filled with five inflatable games (including an obstacle course, at left; a pair of bounces houses for different ages, at right; a bouncy bungee run and a bouncy slide), dunk tank, gaga ball, face painting, sno-cones and popcorn.
Mountain Lake area young students – grades preschool through six – were at the center of the 7th annual Kids Fest – the 2014 version – this past Friday afternoon and early evening at Mountain Lake City Park. Kids Fest is a free end-of-summer/back-to-school event for kids ages preschool through sixth grade.
Event activities will include inflatable games such as an obstacle course, bungee run, bounce houses and slide; a dunk tank; free meal of hot dogs, chips and a beverage; a water balloon fight; face painting; gaga ball and a tug-of-war.
The Kids Fest finale was the traditional big giveaway of prizes – as well as 250 backpacks filled with the necessary school supplies.
Mountain Lake Assembly of God established Kids Fest as a way to offer a free, fun and safe event for kids that will demonstrate to them, their families and the community how much they are loved on so many levels. In addition to the activities, Kids Fest offers practical support to families in the form of backpacks and supplies for the new school year.
The event is significantly organized, staffed and paid for by Mountain Lake Assembly, the event is made possible with the generous support of dozens of local businesses and individuals (including teens and young adults) from the community.
Sponsors for the event include Lohrenz Excavating, Town’s Edge Auto, Midway Farm Equipment, Midway Auto Body, Hanson Realty, Mt. Lake Floral, Paradise Cove Salon, Hoek Outdoors, Klassen Farms, Jordana’s, Bargens, Inc. and United Prairie Bank.
Below are more photographs from fest events:
KIDS WENT TO the “Funny Farm” on this inflatable game, climbing up the steps on the left side and bouncing down the slide on the right. Coming down the slide is Ezra Savage.
SHAILIN OHRTMAN EMPHASIZED the bounciness of the slide as she made her way down.
WHILE KENNA GARDNER, back, added a little extra “tension” to the bungee run, Michala Morin, front, worked her way to the end.
FLAVORED SNO-CONES were a treat at the fest – and the kids could even watch them being made. In went the ice cubes, gnash went the grinder and out came the crushed ice, ready to be topped by a choice of flavored syrup. At left, Trenton Klassen operated the ice cruncher, while, at right, Leighton Schlabach scooped up the crushed ice and placed it in the paper cones.
THIS IS THE back view of the ice cruncher, While Schlabach juggled a trio of sno-cones, left, Klassen operated the switch, right.
TOPPING OFF THE shaved ice treat was a choice of flavored syrup. Elizabeth Koetzle dispensed grape flavor on this sno-cone.
SHYANN OBER RECEIVED a set of colorful whiskers applied at the face painting station. The unseen face painting artist (aside from a right hand) was Kayla Vonk.
COUSINS “PAWS” FOR a photo op after having their cheeks face painted. At left, Tristyn Maras, and at right, Sommer Majerus.
PASTOR DAVID SAVAGE of Mountain Lake Assembly, who brainstormed the idea for Kids Fest and brought it to fruition seven years ago, holds a backpack and just a few of the needed school supplies that were packed into it and handed out to students from preschool age to grade six – at no charge.
BACKPACKS WERE AT the ready in a cardboard box at the start of the assembly line project, with supplies (these the necessary school stuff for a second-grade student), added to the backpack when moving down the line. A total of 250 filled backpacks were distributed.
THE EFFORT WITH which Claudia Garza tossed the softball at the target arm of the dunk tank stand – with Miss Mountain Lake 2014 Jenny Wright sitting on the tank perch – is written all over her face – with her fan club watching in anticipation of a possible dunking.
THE TARGET WAS hit, the seat deployed – and Queen Jenny ended up in the drink.
A YOUNG MAN climbed up the ladder of the inflatable game obstacle course.
NOAH HOLMBERG REACHES for a bag of tasty popcorn.
LANDON BOLDT WAS quick of foot to avoid being hit by the ball, winning this round in gaga ball.
THE THIRD ANNUAL Gkidz Kamp group – with camp directors Jamie and Ro Morin and campers. their grandchildren (all dressed in matching bright green T-shirts) – made a visit to Kids Fest, enjoying the activities and a meal of hot dogs, chips and beverage. At left, front-to-back, Azely Rautenberg, Lorelai Morin, Grandma Jamie, Ronin Rautenberg, Michala Morin and Grandpa Ro. At right, front-to-back, Landon Morin, Paxton Morin, Caliyah Rautenberg, Alex Morin and Lincoln Morin. Besides visiting Kids Fest, Grandpa and Grandma Morin’s Gkidz Kamp featured lots of swimming, target shooting, a field trip, a trail lunch, night games, plenty of food (and food fights) and devotions.
