Nov. 8, 2007

Contact: Richard Symchak

FREE FAMILY FESTIVAL IN THE PARK OFFERS FUN AND MORE NOV. 17

The fun begins Saturday, Nov. 17 when the 2nd Annual Tucson Parks and Recreation Department Family Festival in the Park will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Reid Park, 22^nd Street and Country Club.

“Our slogan for the Festival is ‘It’s all about fun, and it’s free,’ and the Festival offers us a terrific opportunity to showcase all the programs and activities offered to the community through Parks and Recreation,” said Richard Symchak, Department spokesman. “More than 8,000 people visited the first annual event last year to enjoy the games, entertainment, activities, demonstrations and displays, and we expect more this year.”

The Reid Park Zoo and the Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center will offer free admission and swimming, and the Zoo Express will offer free train rides around the park’s large pond. Tucson City Golf will offer free 10-minute golf instruction at the Randolph Driving Range adjacent to the park on Alvernon Way from 10 a.m.-noon.

Family activities at the park will include carnival games, inflatables, crafts, golf chipping/putting, tennis fun and a Turkey Trot event where you can win a free Thanksgiving turkey. Demonstrations will include a Parks and Recreation equipment display.

A giant walk-through book display highlights the various services and programs available to the public, and a KIDCO art display, prepared by children ages 5-12, will be featured.

A variety of entertainment acts will be presented on the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center (OPC) stage and a mobile stage in the Zoo parking log.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks, provided by Tucson City Golf, will be available at reduced cost at two locations to all attendees.

Activities will cover the park area north of the large pond, east to the zoo and west past the OPC area.

Festival visitors are encouraged to use the Concert Way entrance off Country Club or the Reid Park Zoo entrance off Randolph Way, both of which offer plentiful free parking.

Sponsoring community agencies include the Citadel Broadcasting Group and the Dan Felix Memorial Fund.

For more information contact Parks Administration at 791-4873.