PORT ANGELES — The biggest blow-up toy extravaganza in Port Angeles history comes to town Saturday with the city Parks and Recreation Department’s first Family Fun Fest.
The free festival, held from 1 to 5 p.m. at Volunteer Field next to Fairchild International Airport, will have obstacle courses, a rock climb, a play land, music, food and drinks — including inflatable play attractions.
“It’s kind of like our ‘Christmas in August’ present to the community,” said recreation supervisor Jerry W. Cole.
Parks and Recreation officials are expecting several hundred people to attend.
Formerly Yes to Youth
The event is a retooling of the former Clallam County Yes to Youth days. The onetime weeklong event with activities that climaxed on City Pier on July 4 ended in 2000.
With new people and new ideas, Parks and Recreation is now hosting on one day what it is calling “Fantastic Family Fun Fest.”
If the event is successful, it will be repeated next year, Cole said.
One event will carry over from the Yes to Youth celebration — the Helen Radke Youth Achievement Awards.
Three age-group winners of the youth awards, named after the longtime North Olympic Peninsula educator, will be announced at 2:30 p.m. and presented with a commemorative plaque and a $100 U.S. Savings Bond.
The Peninsula Daily News and Rotary Club of Port Angeles co-sponsor the Helen Radke Youth Achievement Awards, which recognize young Clallam County residents for personal, scholastic and community accomplishments.
The three age groups are 6-11 years, 12-14 years and 15-18 years. Nominations were solicited in the PDN between July 14 and 24.