The Lions Family Fun Fest is returning to Great Falls on Saturday, August 10th beginning at 10 am at the Lions Park. This event is sponsored and hosted by the Great Falls Lions Club and the Park and Recreation Department.
The Lions Club picked up the Penny Carnival a year or two after the City of Great Falls stopped holding it. “The people who first picked it up are not with us anymore,” explained Ronda Wiggers, “No one can remember what year we did it first. We’ve been doing it for several years.”
The Lions Family Fun Fest has not been held for two years due to the construction of the new Scheels Aim High Big Sky Aquatic and Recreation Center, which made it unsafe with the construction next to Lions Park. However, this year it is back with preparations already being made for a fun-filled family day.
While this event welcomes all ages, it is targeted towards children under 10. There will be about a dozen different carnival games for kids to enjoy, and about a dozen bicycles given away this year to the kids. As the kids register, they receive a card which will be stamped at each game they play. After they receive a stamp from five games, they can use their card to enter for a chance to win whichever bike they choose. Each game also gives away strip tickets which can be redeemed for prizes or snow cones.
Community sponsors for this event include Strobels, Pepsi, DA Davidson, Facility Improvement Corporation (FICO), Loenbro, MT Credit Union, Schnider Funeral Home, O’Connor Funeral Home, L’Heureaux Page, Werner PC, and the Hinebauch Agency.
This year, the Shire of Stan Wyrm, a local medieval recreation group, will be providing a live exhibit. Additionally, Town Square Media will be doing a live broadcast from 11 am to 1:00 pm, and the bike winners will be drawn at 1:00 pm. You do not have to be present to win.
The Shriners will be coming with clowns and will do balloon animals for the kids. There will also be face painting, donated bounce houses for the kids to play in, and the splash park will be open at the new pool. The only things that will be charged for are hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, and chips provided by the Lions Club. These items will not be marked up much, as the goal is to cover the costs and ensure affordability. All other activities are free, making it a day for kids to have fun and win prizes.
“Last time we had Family Fun Fest, we had over 600 children, so this doesn’t seem to be a fading thing,” explained Ronda. Since over 800 people have shown interest so far this year, Ronda has stated that she will make sure there are plenty of prizes for all the children.
“We ask anybody who participates to do an activity with the kids, whether it’s an art activity or a game or something, and I won’t let anybody be there who’s charging. We’re trying to make this affordable,” Ronda added. “The only charge at this event is a nominal fee for the food.”
Volunteers are needed to help man the games and the prize table. If you would like to spend the day helping bring smiles to these kids, please contact Ronda at (406) 899-5659.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
