Family Fun Fest doubles as entertainment, informative event
Kaylie Christopher, 7, spent the day playing with animals. Joan Halloway, 9, listened to a human heartbeat.
Robert Jamison, 8, met Mr. McFeeley.
All the while, their parents browsed upwards of 50 social service and health-related booths at the Family Fun Fest.
Held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds, the event marks the 5th year the county’s Human Service Council offered the free event.
Council Chairman John DeCarlo, who helped organize the festival, said the day is meant to showcase some of the agencies the county offers for people who may need their services. Included in booth displays were the Crime Victims’ Center, Woodlands Zoo and health-screening services.
“This day is meant as family fun and a stress-free event for the family, and really, children of all ages,” said DeCarlo.
Christopher couldn’t agree more.
Excited as she petted a puppy at the Fayette Friends of Animals display, the Uniontown resident said she traversed the grounds, getting goodies from booths, but continued to wander back to the puppies the shelter had up for adoption.
“They’re supposed to be good for your health,” Christopher told her mother. “Let’s get one for grammy.”
While the young girl’s mom was pleased with the heartfelt suggestion, she opted to forego the puppy.
It’s that kind of interaction DeCarlo is pleased to see, and community participation was in anything but short supply. This year, DeCarlo said the festival may have broken attendance records. with more than 800 visitors stopping by between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the past four years, organizers estimate the festival has reached about 3,000 people.
This year, children and adults stood in line to meet and obtain an autograph from David Newell, the actor who played Mr. McFeeley, the mailman from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Awestruck from seeing the “Speedy Delivery” mailman in person, Jamison clutched his autograph to his chest and smiled, repeating, “I can’t believe I got to meet him.”
His excitement obvious, the youngster said he planned to frame Mr. McFeeley’s autograph and hang it on his wall.
Darla Perrine, 34, was another person excited to see Mr. McFeeley up close.
“I grew up with Fred Rogers. Since he died, I have been looking fondly back on his show with my children.
“Now, I have a way to keep those memories even closer,” said Perrine. Rogers died in February of stomach cancer at age 74. He spent more than 30 years as the host of the popular PBS children’s program.
In all, DeCarlo said the day was a successful one, and joked that the planners must have done something right this year to avoid the rain that stymied crowds the past two years.
“It’s just been a fabulous day, not only with participation from the community, but from the vendors, as well,” he said.