A festival filled up the Stockade yesterday, bringing families from the Swift Current area out for a morning of fun. 

In Motion Community Facilitator, Val ChooFoo, said that for just $3 families could partake in a variety of activities, ranging from multiple bouncy houses, to face painting, to a jumbo game of snakes and ladders.  

“We also had a special guest,” she said. “Egbert, our spring chicken, who came on over dressed in costume, was getting lots of hugs, lots of high fives. I said [he] had to go because he was getting a little overheated and he had to go back to the farm. Egbert could hardly get out of the Stockade with the hugs, and kids were following outside to see where his farm was and where he lived—so just the interactions that you see, lots of thank yous from parents and grandparents on their way out.” 

egbertEgbert received many hugs throughout the morning (photo courtesy of Val ChooFoo)

This was the City’s second Family Festival, with the very first having been during Family Fun Week in February.

As the first-time event brought hundreds of families out, ChooFoo said they thought it would be a hit for folks over the Easter holidays as well.  

“We had a great turn out, I think just under 250 people were out there having lots of fun,” she said. “It's always good for families to have an opportunity to get out and have some fun, do some different things with friends and family. It looked like everyone enjoyed themselves.” 

It took a few different organizations to make the day a success, however.

The Early Years Family Resource Centre helped, the Art Gallery of Swift Current sent out Theo for face painting, the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre set up crafts and games, and Safeway donated hundreds of cookies for folks to snack on.  

“A huge thank you always to our community partners and just thanks to the community for supporting these programs and events,” ChooFoo said. “We try to provide what we think people want and then when you get a good turn out, it always feels good. So, we are happy and we're all happy that springs here. Hopefully moving forward, most of our programs and events will all be outdoors.”