Kids Funfest is returning to Sarnia's Clearwater Park this Saturday.
The 25th annual free event, last held in 2019, gets going at 9 a.m. and wraps up at around 2 p.m.
Community Services Coordinator Rachel Veilleux said it will feature live animals, crafts, interactive sports demos, entertainment and more.
"Each vendor will be providing an interactive activity for the kids, from binocular training, archery, music and carnival games, there will be lots to do."
Veilleux said they've added an area called touch-a-truck, where children can learn more about dump trucks, school buses and other service vehicles. She also said there will be on-stage entertainment every hour near the food vendor area.
Veilleux said one of the benefits of the day is that families get to learn more about family-oriented services that exist in the community.
"Businesses and organizations [also] benefit by being able to promote their services, and children benefit in the short-term from making memories at the event itself and in the long-term by signing up and participating in some of the clubs and services that are promoted at the event."
In past years, around 3,000 people have attended Funfest.
Veilleux said the festivities started in 1996 when the then city recreation coordinator gathered a group of community members who represented sports, arts and other areas.
"The group of individuals shared a common interest which was the healthy development of children in the community which ultimately led to the creation of Kids Funfest. Over the years the event has changed in location and size, but the mandate and the date of the events have remained the same."
The event is always held on the second Saturday in June.
"It was organized by myself and our Kids Funfest committee and our mandate has always been to cater towards children ages 12 and under and their families, but we're certainly not going to deny entry to anybody that perhaps is older than 12."
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-With files from Stephanie Chaves
