KidFest draws enthusiastic crowd

“I love seeing the creativity and the energy,” commented NRHEG Community Education Director Macy Whiteside. “This is what early childhood family education is all about.”

 

Whiteside was supervising the fourth Halloween “KidFest” her department has put together. The event took place in the community room at the New Richland City Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Halloween. She said she planned for about 120 people, with the activities and games focused on preschoolers, but also suitable for the older brothers and sisters who came with them.

 

“This is the largest turnout we’ve ever had,” she observed enthusiastically. “It’s been a busy night. I’m pretty sure we surpassed the 120.”

 

Whiteside expressed gratitude to the city for loan of the space, explaining set-up at the school would not have worked because drivers’ education classes are underway in the early evening at this time of year.

 

Along with welcoming families as they arrived, Whiteside took photos of children in costumes, letting them know the images would be posted on Facebook. The pictures which received the most “likes,” she told them, would win the prizes displayed on a nearby table.

 

There was a ring toss game using inflated witches’ hats, ball toss games with skeletons for targets, a suspended cauldron with (plastic) bones, and a table full of ingredients for making “magic potions.”

 

Small, straight-necked bottles waited to be filled with glitter, colored water, leaves, and a wide variety of other options, then labeled. Some participants claimed their potions would bring “luck,” and “cast spells.”

 

“What I like best about that activity,” observed Whiteside, “is that it brings the parents and the children to the table side by side. They work together to make the potions, and they talk about each one.

 

“That’s the exact kind of family interaction we aim for.”

 

As groups of children filtered in, they would have their picture taken, then spend however much time they wished on the various activities. All were invited to take a treat from a giant spider-shaped bin as they left.

 

“This event helps draw attention to our [early childhood family education] program and is just generally meant to be a safe, fun way for families to interact,” said Whiteside. “I’ve been really pleased with the turnout and with the time families can spend together.”