Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bragg | Children feed hay to a goat at the petting zoo, during the 2013 annual Spring Fair at...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Children of all ages entered a fun-filled area with excitement in their eyes when Marine Corps Community Services opened its gates to the Children, Youth and Teen Program Spring Fair behind the Youth Activities Center, April 6, 2013.
Filled with laughter, children ran around the many attractions playing with bubbles, glimmering in the sunlight, racing one another in obstacle courses and participating in egg hunts. The Spring Fair is one of four seasonal events held by MCCS and offered an enjoyable experience for service members and their families. Parents bonded with their children as they attended different attractions around the fair, laughing and playing together.
“We hold these events to support Marines and their families for everything they do for us,” said Emma Amasiu, the coordinator for the Spring Fair and a native of Hawaii. “This is for the families so they can have a special day. Everything we have to offer to the families today is free, and to show that we really appreciate their service.”
Bouncy houses, ring tossing, Easter egg hunting and a petting zoo were just a few of the attractions families had the opportunity to experience this year. Some people just want to entertain the children, such as Stevo the clown.
Dressed in a curly rainbow wig, blue-patterned vest with matching bottoms and a white face with a red painted mustache, Stevo the clown made myriad balloon shapes for children before putting on a juggling show for everyone. Each child received a special balloon from Stevo, who made funny faces and told jokes keeping the children entertained.
"These are good family events that really bring people together,” said Steve Hawkes, an entertainer and a native of Kailua. “It’s a good day for kids to come out and have a good time, especially for those whose fathers or mothers are deployed.”
The fair also offered obstacle courses where children were able to race against each other to see who could finish the course the quickest. For children seeking fun indoors away from the beaming sun, arts and crafts were a prominent attraction that offered various Easter themes.
“Not every family can afford to do fun things,” Amasiu said. “I want them to have the best times of their life.”
Kids ran around with their families from one attraction to another, including the Easter bunny, who took photos with the children. Some shied away from the entertainer while some kids were ecstatic to see him. However, some furry creatures stole the show in a petting zoo provided by Colton Farm.
“We’re not just a petting zoo, but also a form of teaching children how to take good care of animals,” said MaryRose Timmons-Colton, who runs Colton Farm with her husband, Claude Colton, and are both natives of Hawaii. “It’s a great experience for the kids to learn as they are feeding straw to the goats.”
Having the opportunity to help give back to the military community is what gets a lot of people volunteering for events such as the Spring Fair. Some volunteers have attended previous events sponsored by MCCS and love coming out to help and have a good time.
"A friend noticed what we were doing with the community and with our farm, and they recommended us to the base,” MaryRose Timmons-Colton said. “We were honored when they asked us to come out for the Spring Fair. We have a blast with the military families, and we feel very privileged.”
Putting on a show before the end of the fair, Stevo the clown performed a juggling show for anyone watching. Wowing the crowd with cool tricks, kids showed plenty of interest and excitement throughout the show.
“Good family events like this one always have a large turnout,” Hawkes said. “You don’t always have to do something different to entertain a crowd, you just have to show them you genuinely care.”
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2013 22:31 |
| Story ID: | 106174 |
| Location: | KANEOHE BAY, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Spring Fair is fun for everyone, by GySgt Matthew Bragg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT