KidsFest a hit with youngsters
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 25, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Makayla Young, 3, gets a kiss from Engine, a Dalmatian with the Arrington Fire Department, during the KidsFest at Berkeley Mall on Saturday.
Sporting fresh face paint that had him looking like Spider-Man, 4-year-old Yakir Craft said he had sat in a fire truck at Saturday's 21st Annual KidsFest.
Asked which truck on display was his favorite, he quickly answered, "The big one."
Yakir said he even got to drive.
Yakir and his mother, Crystal Craft, and her mother, cousins and her children were among the many who turned out for the event held inside Berkeley Mall and the mall parking lot, where firetrucks were on display.
Inside vendors were set up to let the public know about their services.
"We just came inside," Ms. Craft said. "I think it is nice. It is a good idea. We are just going both to booth to see what they have got."
The event featured games, prizes, vendor booths and live music will entertain children and families throughout the morning and afternoon, all with the goal of educating the public about fire prevention and safety.
The festival is put on by the Wayne County Health Department and area fire departments as part of Fire Prevention Month.
"What we are doing today is promote education, health and wellness," said Shamika Howell, public health education supervisor at the Health Department. "We have different vendors who are coming out from throughout the county, throughout the city. We are working together here to put our names out there so people can have a better understanding of what services we do have.
"This is a free event so kids have a chance to do some games. We have some door prizes, some raffles. A lot of our parents are very excited to see these are some of the services that can be helpful for their families."
Several departments within the Wayne County Health Department had booths at the event.
Also participating were The Bridge Church, the Wayne County Boys and Girls Club, Partnership for Children, and the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross, among others.
Several area restaurants and businesses are helping sponsor the event with gift cards for the firefighters, for this year's theme, "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep," advocates smoke detector awareness.