FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 3, 2015) -- More than 4,000 people crowded the Fort Rucker Festival Fields March 28 to celebrate children and kick off Month of the Military Child during one of the installation's biggest events.
Children's Fest had everything from magicians and superheroes, to egg hunts and a petting zoo to keep more than 2,000 children entertained throughout the day, according to Kristi Fink, Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation special events coordinator.
"(Children's Fest) was a huge success," she said. "This was a great way to celebrate the families and it gives the children a day dedicated to them."
The event kicked off with an egg hunt for different age groups, in which hundreds of children participated, and people were able to visit with a magician, stilt walker, petting zoo, make bird houses, ride a trackless train, play in inflatables, take photos with super heroes, have their face painted and even enjoy free ice cream from some of the vendors.
More than 10,000 plastic eggs were put out for the egg hunt, some with prizes inside, so no child had trouble finding an egg to go into their basket, and for the Avery family, it was a great way to spend some quality time together.
"We couldn't have picked a better way to spend our Saturday with our kids," said Sheila Avery, civilian. "It was so much fun to come out and watch my two boys run out there and collect eggs with all of these other children. It's not often kids want to go out and play, but when they see all of these other children out here they get excited and just wanted to play with all of them."
After the egg hunt, the Averys sat in the grass and counted their eggs and opened them up together to see what prizes they might have won.
"I think this is the best part because it's something we get to do together," said the mother of two. "Things like this remind me of when I was a kid doing things like this in my neighborhood and I'm just glad my children get to have the same kind of experience."
Although egg hunts might not be very rare across the Wiregrass, many of the children in attendance were in for a treat with the petting zoo, which had animals that many people hadn't seen in person before.
The petting zoo had goats and chickens like most people are familiar with, but it also had a camel and a kangaroo, which many children seemed enamored with.
"My kids absolutely loved the petting zoo because none of us had ever seen a kangaroo before," said Joyce McCullough, Army spouse. "They were just taken with it and they just kept asking me why it had to wear a diaper. They just thought it was the silliest thing and it made them so happy."
Some other sights that people were able to see were an appearance by the Easter Bunny, super heroes like Captain America, as well as some Storm Troopers and sand people from the "Star Wars" movies.
Many children also tried their hand at being a Soldier with the Warrant Officer Career College obstacle course for children, which had a wall climb, rope swing, monkey bars and more that children had to get across with warrant officer candidates there to help if needed.
"I really didn't think there would be so much here for the children to do," said McCullough, who said this is her families first time at Children's Fest. "I'm really impressed by how much went into this and how much effort they put into it to make sure that everyone here is having a good time. It really made me glad to be here."
That effort is the combined works of many organizations and volunteers who took time out to make sure the event was a success.
"From setting up the field to having a booth with a craft or game, we couldn't have done this event without the help of those organizations (and volunteers). Putting on such a huge event like this takes a lot of teamwork," said Fink.
Related Links:
USAACE and Fort Rucker on Twitter
Social Sharing