061311 The unofficial start of summer vacation: Kids Day on the Square
By Sharon Haught
June 6, 2011
275
Summary: Children of all ages marked the end of another school year by taking part in the dozens of kid friendly activities available at Main Street Woosters annual Kids Day festivities in downtown Wooster.
Hundreds of kids of all ages packed the Square in downtown Wooster to celebrate the end of another school year when Main Street Wooster presented its annual Kids Day festivities on June 4.
With dozens of different free hands-on activities just for kids, this popular annual event, which is sponsored by LuK USA, Wooster Community Hospital and Century Link, has long signaled the unofficial start of summer vacation.
This year kids could choose from a large selection of activities hosted by over 40 area organizations and businesses.
In addition to games including a unique version of a bean bag toss where competitors tried their hand at tossing a crabby patty into Sponge Bob Square Pants mouth, there was face painting, balloon creations and favorite summer time snacks like snow cones and popcorn for the young participants.
For those kids who needed to burn off a little energy after being cooped up in a classroom all year there were plenty of things to do from jumping in giant inflatables sponsored by Clear Picture and running an obstacle course to trying their hand at hula hoops compliments of the Y.
One of the most popular attractions at Kids Day was the Everything Rubbermaid sponsored Little Tikes play area. Safely tucked within walls of straw, tiny drivers got behind the wheel of cars built just for them.
For kids looking to show their artistic side, make-it-take-it craft projects were hosted a number of organizations including colorful yarn rainbows at the Girl Scout booth and handcrafted crowns and masks at the Pat Catans booth.
Nearby at the Wayne County Public Library booth young readers had the opportunity to sign up for the librarys popular summer reading program. To go along with this years international theme, visitors could also make their own Japanese wind sock.
For the animal lovers there were dogs from the Caring Therapy Canines and horses and goats from Life's Little Adventure Farm. Even the Wayne County Beekeepers were on hand with a display of honey bees busily filling honeycombs with sweet nectar.
At the end of the street sat every kids dream – a fire engine from the Wooster Fire Department. As parents snapped pictures, kids took turns sitting behind the wheel of the fire truck and climbing aboard the basket of the aerial ladder truck to get a closer look at the controls.
The highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of the names of recipients of this years All American Kids Awards. Nominated by their teachers for outstanding achievement in a particular subject or for outstanding citizenship and effort and selected by a committee of Main Street Wooster board members each winner was presented with a $50 savings bond courtesy of Wooster-area banks.
This years All American Kids Award recipients were Nicole Chupp (Dalton Intermediate), Gabriele Csepel (Lincoln Way Elementary-Wooster), Owen Dugan (Lincoln Way Elementary-Wooster), Cameron Edmiston (Parkview Elementary-Wooster), Kyra Emick (Apple Creek Elementary), Angelina Fox (Parkview Elementary-Wooster), Luke Frantz (Wayne Elementary-Wooster), Alex Griffin (Parkview Elementary-Wooster), Andrea Hensel (Apple Creek Elementary), Sydney Hulin (Chippewa Middle School), Seth Kromer (Apple Creek Elementary), Keelin Lloyd (Apple Creek Elementary), Hannah Miller (Creston Middle School), Zachary Ntia (Lincoln Way Elementary-Wooster), Travis Schooling (Chippewa Middle School), Anthony Seifert (Chippewa Middle School), Rachel Swinehart (Chippewa Middle School), Elizabeth Szukaitis (Melrose Elementary-Wooster), Maxine Varner (Wayne Elementary-Wooster) and Elijah Yoder (Apple Creek Elementary).
Kids Day is one of over a dozen major festivals, concerts and special shopping events sponsored by Main Street Wooster.
The next event on their busy schedule is Ladies Night Out on June 23.
To see their full calendar of events visit the Main Street Wooster web site at www.mainstreetwooster.org.
