Kids turn out in force for SPRD Carnival

T. Lee Brown | Last updated May 05, 2023 5:5pm0

Photo by Jerry Baldock count

Sisters Park & Recreation District's inaugural Kids Carnival was a smashing success, drawing families from across Central Oregon to Sisters for a day of youth activities. Five-year-old Beau Hilgers was one of many who got his face painted by Remy Klein at the event. See story, page 25.

Photo by Jerry Baldock count

Families from across Central Oregon turned out to enjoy kids' activities at an SPRD carnival held Saturday.

Good weather and a wide variety of activities brought hundreds of locals to Sisters Parks & Recreation District's (SPRD) Kids Carnival last Saturday. Dancing, bicycle safety, face painting, exploring trucks, and planting starts were among the possibilities.

"It was such a great day," enthused Nikki Olson, whose role at SPRD includes coordinating special events and the District's care programs. She's been with SPRD since August.

"The turnout was about 700 people. We were packed," she said. "It was like, holy moly!"

SPRD sought to celebrate partnerships with many organizations in the area. "We partnered with Sisters – Camp Sherman Fire District for their bike safety event, so we had tons of families come and get their kids fitted for helmets and go on a bike course," explained Olson. "They brought a fire truck, but had to run off on an emergency call."

"We had tractors and trucks, and Bonneville Power came out with a couple of their big rigs. Kids could learn about their trade programs," Olson said.

Crafts, selfies, games, and puzzles were available as well. "Seed to Table did planting activities with the kids," Olson said. "It was so sweet. They got to plant their own little seedling to take home."

Olson appreciated the physical movement activities. BendBits Kids, which frequently leads classes at SPRD, offered gymnastic activities for little kids. "We also had Sisters Dance Academy; they had a fun twirl-walk for the kids to do," she said.

"Circle of Friends did a really great booth, a fishing booth," Olson added. Better Together, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, and others were also on hand.

"We want to make families aware of all the programs we do, but also make them aware of all the family-oriented organizations in our district," said Olson.

Kids could take a passport, encouraging them to visit every booth and activity to get their passport stamped. They received prizes, activities, and other rewards, including a raffle for a $100 gift certificate to SPRD's programs.

Said Olson, "We were excited about how it turned out. Luckily we had good weather. It was just a great, free event."