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Record number of kids attend event
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| Four-year-old Kelechi Anyanwu edges past Dylan Hayden, 6, in the Turtle Fall Festival tractor race Saturday as Ayden Wehrli, 3, peddles to keep up. Staff photo by Ashley Rhodebeck |
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
Turtle Fall Festival features only kids' activities this year
TOWN OF TURTLE - When organizers planned the eighth annual Fall Festival, they anticipated a couple hundred children would show up.
Within an hour into Saturday's event, festival committee chair Jim Brandenburg had counted at least 200.
“This is the largest children's turnout, and that's what it's for,” he said, noting organizers zeroed in on the kids by cutting out the traditional breakfast, craft show and fireworks.
For four hours, children could visit more than a dozen stations, including a balloon toss, a tractor pull, a train ride and a burlap sack race.
Regardless of whether they won or lost, the children received a prize, such as board games, sticker sets and stuffed animals.
While all stations had participants, it appeared the fire truck rides were the busiest. Fire Chief Tim Huffman said the two engines and two tankers had given rides to at least 70 kids within the first 90 minutes.
“I was in the front seat, and he did the siren,” John Simons, 5, said.
His mother, Amy Simons, of Beloit, brought John and his 3-year-old brother, Hunter, to the event for the first time on a friend's suggestion. She was glad she did.
“It's good for the kids,” Amy Simons said. “They love being able to see the fire trucks up close.”
Repeat attendee Tim Sullivan, of Beloit, brought his three kids - ages 5, 3 and 1 - to the festival, where they enjoyed being outside and being able to run around while having fun. He hopes the event remains an annual occurrence.
“It's good for the community and good for the people in the community,” Sullivan said.
One parent was especially grateful for the Fall Festival because her two visually impaired sons could participate in the activities like any other kid.
Beloit resident Kim Ward started attending the festival because Sue Brandenburg, wife of Jim Brandenburg and principal at Powers Elementary School, encouraged Ward - whose children attend Powers - to go.
Many festivals feature games involving distance or aiming - aspects not suitable for children with visual impairments, Ward said.
Often, her children would feel disappointed when they couldn't play those games like their peers, and Ward said they often bypassed those events altogether.
Thus, Ward was pleased to see Turtle's activities were geared for all children, impaired or not.
“This is phenomenal for any kid with a disability,” she said. “It gives my kids the experience any other kid would have.”
TOWN OF TURTLE - When organizers planned the eighth annual Fall Festival, they anticipated a couple hundred children would show up.
Within an hour into Saturday's event, festival committee chair Jim Brandenburg had counted at least 200.
“This is the largest children's turnout, and that's what it's for,” he said, noting organizers zeroed in on the kids by cutting out the traditional breakfast, craft show and fireworks.
For four hours, children could visit more than a dozen stations, including a balloon toss, a tractor pull, a train ride and a burlap sack race.
Regardless of whether they won or lost, the children received a prize, such as board games, sticker sets and stuffed animals.
While all stations had participants, it appeared the fire truck rides were the busiest. Fire Chief Tim Huffman said the two engines and two tankers had given rides to at least 70 kids within the first 90 minutes.
“I was in the front seat, and he did the siren,” John Simons, 5, said.
His mother, Amy Simons, of Beloit, brought John and his 3-year-old brother, Hunter, to the event for the first time on a friend's suggestion. She was glad she did.
“It's good for the kids,” Amy Simons said. “They love being able to see the fire trucks up close.”
Repeat attendee Tim Sullivan, of Beloit, brought his three kids - ages 5, 3 and 1 - to the festival, where they enjoyed being outside and being able to run around while having fun. He hopes the event remains an annual occurrence.
“It's good for the community and good for the people in the community,” Sullivan said.
One parent was especially grateful for the Fall Festival because her two visually impaired sons could participate in the activities like any other kid.
Beloit resident Kim Ward started attending the festival because Sue Brandenburg, wife of Jim Brandenburg and principal at Powers Elementary School, encouraged Ward - whose children attend Powers - to go.
Many festivals feature games involving distance or aiming - aspects not suitable for children with visual impairments, Ward said.
Often, her children would feel disappointed when they couldn't play those games like their peers, and Ward said they often bypassed those events altogether.
Thus, Ward was pleased to see Turtle's activities were geared for all children, impaired or not.
“This is phenomenal for any kid with a disability,” she said. “It gives my kids the experience any other kid would have.”
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hesmyhero wrote on Oct 6, 2008 2:51 PM: