ARENA PARK FAMILY FUN FAIR SLATED

Celebration, good food, laughter and games will all be happening at the Family Fun Fair in the Arena. The event will be held on April 21 from to 4:30 p.m. in the A.C. Brase Arena Building.

Family Fun Fair in the Arena, formerly known as Sunday in the Park, is an annual event sponsored by the Community Counseling Center Foundation. The purpose of the event is to promote and provide positive family interaction.

Kim Swartz, executive director of the foundation, said the name of the event was changed to avoid confusion. "For the past two years the weather has been bad," she said. "Most of the events are held inside so weather is not a problem. We found the community didn't realize the event would take place regardless of the weather. So we changed the name in the hopes of raising attendance."

Another factor that led to the name change was the Park and Recreation's Friends of the Park Day held the day before the fair. Some people thought Sunday in the Park and Friends of the Park Day were the same thing, Swartz said.

Fair events target families with children ages 2 through 12.

"The whole reason for the event is to provide and communicate positive family involvement," Swartz said. "The activities are designed to be activities parents can do with their children."

Events include exhibitions by Riverside Gymnastics, Lee Parks Martial Arts and the Explorer Post Troop 11 Indian Dancers. Continuous entertainment will be provided by magician Bill Coomer.

Special appearances will be made by Kool K and Jenna from the KBSI Kids Club, Chuck E. Cheese, Buckle Bear and Vince and Larry, the crash dummies.

Over 45 organizations volunteer their time for the fair. "One of the neatest part of the day," Swartz said, "is the host of volunteers that help run the activities. I don't know how we could hold the event without their help."

Carnival games will set up by the recreation program planning class from Southeast Missouri State University. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. Included in the games will be a dunking booth, lollipop grab, balloon bust and Japanese name writing.

Southeast University Greeks will also be on hand to help with the day's activities. The event is an approved service project of Greek Week.

"This is one weekend of the year for the entire Greek system to give back to Cape Girardeau and to provide as many services as we can," said Julie Schroeder, a service weekend coordinator for Greek Week. "We are very excited about doing Family Fun Fair in the Arena. This is a major project we are taking on this year."

All elementary schools and pre-schools have been invited to participate in an original mural drawing contest.

"Each school is provided with materials on which to create a mural, following the theme 'Magic of Play,'" said Dr. Doris Skelton, event chairman and board director of the foundation.

Entries are judged and the winner gets $100 to be used for their school at the principal's discretion.

A similar contest is also open for children ages 2 through 12. The winners for the poster drawing are evaluated in four age categories. Prizes include saving bonds and toys. Original drawing contest entry forms may be picked up at Target, Toys R Us and the Community Counseling Center.

A donation of 25 cents will be accepted as admission to the fair.