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  • Andrea Hajeck, 4, plays with a dragon puppet.Dragon Puppet

    Childrens’ Festival Focus is on Fun

    By Greg Davis, Editor

     

    FARMINGTON – The Franklin County Children’s Task Force brought its 31st Annual Children’s Festival Saturday to the Student Center at the University of Maine at Farmington, and the center filled up over the four-hour period  with enthusiastic children who enjoyed plenty of hands-on activities throughout the day.

    The Children’s Festival each year is an opportunity for families to break up the winter blues, get out and enjoy a day of free activities. The event offers a low cost food court, with pizza, ice cream, popcorn and water or juice with activities in a hands-room such as face painting, sand tables and necklace making. Strolling about was McGruff the Crime Dog.

    Rotarians estimated that on average they serve 70 pizzas (700 slices) each festival. All food receipts benefit the Franklin County Children’s Task Force.

    The ever-popular cookie decorating returned for the little ones, along with  Nintendo Wii. The Gross Motor room mats for tumbling and other playtime activities. There also was a quiet corner available for reading a book with a child. Music and entertainment was offered in the North Dining Hall throughout the day, with Mark Phillips, Bill Reid and Mr. Magic performing.

    Those who volunteered their time and services also included Camp Eastward, Care & Comfort, Catholic Charities of Maine, C.H.IP. 15th Masonic District Association, Community Concepts, Everyone’s Resource Depot,  UM Cooperative Extension, Franklin Savings Bank, Healthy Community Coalition, Inch by Inch Preschool, Maine Maple Producers Association, Decal Gymnastics, Literacy Volunteers, Petting Zoo Musical Instruments, Smart Fun Learning Adventures, Sweatt Winter Child Care and Wilton Public Library.

    This year’s sponsors included UMF, Aramark, Coca-Cola of Farmington, Dexter supply, Franklin Somerset Federal Credit Union, Hannaford, Hammond Lumber Company, Opportunity Center of North Franklin County, Inc. PalletOne of Maine Inc./DBA Isaacson Lumber Co., Ron and Nina Brown, Dr. Roger Kay, Wilson Masonic Lodge #156 and Woodland Wanderers Snowmobile Club of Wilton.

  • Paper Dragon

    Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

    Joshua Bunnell, 6, of Wilton, with the paper dragon he constructed.

  • Music Time

    Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

    Toddlers don’t want to work, they just want to bang on the drums all day….

Sidebar

  • Mr. Magic and Rabbit

    Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

    Mr. Magic reveals a hypnotized rabbit at the 31st Annual Children’s Festival

  • Hanging Out

    Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

    Hanging out at the Decal Gymnastics corner.

  • Emerges

    Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

    Lemuel Sloma, 1, of Farmington enjoys a play tunnel.

     

    • Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      Decal Gymastics had some hands-on activities for children.

    • Hopping

      Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      Lucy Merrill, 1, of Industry hops on a mini-trampoline.

    • Face Painting

      Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      Scout Simpson, 4, of Farmington receives face paint from Shantel Moody of the Franklin County Children’s  Task Force.

    • Mr. Magic in Color

      Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      Mr. Magic with an explosion of colorful scarves.

    • Balloon Hat

      Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      Colin Woehe-Logan, 5, of Farmington, receives a balloon hat from Rick Merrill.

    • McGruff The Crime Dog

      Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      McGruff the Crime Dog greets children.

    • Eastward Monkey Puppet

      Greg Davis/Franklin Journal

      Judy Hamilton of Eastward camps shares a monkey puppet with Zara McAllister, 7 of Farmington.

     

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