Nathan Aeschliman, 2, picks a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch at the third annual Children’s Fall Festival, held Saturday at Kelly Park. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
Children's Fall Festival draws crowd at Kelly Park
Costume and pumpkin-decorating contests, fun activities and a pumpkin patch set the tone for the third annual Children’s Fall Festival, held Saturday at Kelly Park. The event, sponsored by GMH Military Housing, gave Fort Bliss families a chance to get out and enjoy the day’s beautiful weather, said Frank Ortiz, GMH outreach coordinator.
“The festival gives kids a chance to come out and get pumpkins,” he said. “We have a pumpkin decorating contest, and the kids are all winners. There’s free mini golf, free jumping balloons and a costume contest, where the winner gets $25 in cash.”
One station, Kidz Keeping Fit, gave children in attendance the opportunity to get active. Physical challenges including races and hula-hoop contests, said Miguel Munoz of the El Paso del Norte Region YWCA, who oversaw the booth’s activities.
Calvin Ferkel, 4, dressed as Superman for the costume contest held as part of the Children’s Fall Festival, enjoys his balloon. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
Several family readiness groups and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers also had stations at the fall festival.
“We allow FRGs and BOSS to come out and have fundraisers by selling food and painting faces,” Ortiz said. “It’s a good opportunity for them.”
The pumpkin patch, provided by GMH, allowed festival-goers to choose a free pumpkin. Each child was allowed to pick a pumpkin, which he or she could then embellish and enter into the pumpkin-decorating contest. Children could also choose to take the pumpkin, decorated or not, home for later use.
Naomi Moran, 8, races through a tunnel set up as part of an event at the Kidz Keeping Fit Station during the festival. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
“The day’s activities drew quite a crowd. Ortiz said he expected to see between 600 to 800 visitors by the close of the event.
While the stations, booths and activities focused on the children, the real focus of the day was on family.
“We do this for our Soldiers and their families,” Ortiz said. “It’s all around fun for everyone. And it was a beautiful day for it.”