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Huge Lineup of Activities, Entertainment, Vendors and More Set for 5th Annual Bridgeport Family Day

By Jeff Toquinto on June 17, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com

Last year, organizers stopped counting when more than 1,200 people attended the City of Bridgeport’s Family Day event at City Park. And considering the lineup of activities and entertainment tfinalized for his year that number could very easily be surpassed.
 
“This is definitely the biggest one we’ve had to date,” said City Clerk Andrea Kerr of the fifth annual event. “It’s the most vendors, the most activities, the most prize giveaways that’s pointing to a big and bad day. And I mean bad in the good way.”
 
While Family Day is geared toward fun, Kerr wanted to remind everyone the purpose of the event. It’s to get the community familiarized with all aspects of emergency personnel, as other entities and businesses throughout the community.
 
“We want people to be comfortable, adults and children, with law enforcement, fire, emergency services, our VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) and anyone else that’s on hand,” said Kerr. “So far, it’s worked out well.”
 
This year’s event is set for this coming Thursday, June 22. The event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In the event rain washes that night out, the rain date is set for Tuesday, June 27 at the same time and location at Bridgeport City Park.
“As before, everything is free. You only need to bring your family, a bit of an appetite, a desire to have fun and perhaps a lawn chair and a blanket if you want to listen to the band that we have performing,” said Kerr.
 
The lineup of vendors, activities, events and more is impressive – some of which may not be included below. For starters, to help with the law enforcement theme the city has partnered with the local FBI to do fingerprinting of children.
 
“Those fingerprints are kept right here in Harrison County at the FBI (CJIS) in the largest fingerprint depository in the country. The purpose is that, heaven forbid, a child comes up missing or is abducted there is a record of their prints to help in a search,” said Kerr.
 
For those youngsters, or even adults, who like heavy equipment or to get on and touch big machinery, the “touch-a-truck” event is on tap. Bridgeport Police will have vehicles, including those from the motorcycle division, on hand that individuals can go through, sit on and take pictures with. The police will also having driving impaired goggles for those attending to try on and have plenty of games and work with child safety seat installations.
 
The Fire Department will also have multiple units on hand for those who would like an up close and personal view as well as a chance to get inside. Kerr said youngster particularly like blowing the horn on the fire trucks.
 
That’s not all. Waste Management and Central Supply will have trucks on hand and the city will be bringing in some of their heavy equipment including bulldozers and backhoes.
 
“There’s all kinds of equipment kids can check out,” said Kerr. “It’s one of the most heavily visited areas.”
 
There will also be vendors set up providing treats for those in attendance – and again it’s all free. The city police will be making snow cones and Fellowship Bible Church will be making popcorn. Buffalo Wild Wings, iHop, Starbucks and perhaps several others will be on hand with treats for those making the trip to Family Day.
 
“The other big thing is that most of the vendors attending will have prizes to give away, games that they’ll be offering and information regarding services beneficial  to  the community,” said Kerr. “All of them, in some way, have pertinent information that could benefit the community and the safety of the community.”
 
The entertainment list is also lengthy. Mister Twister will be on hand to shape balloons for children, there will be a photo booth, a water slide, a zip line and bounce houses.
 
“If you’re going down the water slide, be sure and bring your swim trunks and a towel,” Kerr said.
 
For those who want to stay in one place, the event will include a performance by The Bradley Shaw Band out of Clarksburg.  Kerr said they play cover music of top 40 country music.
 
“The concert will be on the softball field. If you don’t know where that’s at, just look for the stage,” she said.
 
The entertainment actually will begin prior to entry to Bridgeport City Park.  The city is teaming up with the Mountaineer Cruisers for the Bridgeport Family Day Car Cruise. It will run at the exact same time and the cars, dozens of which are expected to be there, will be located on the Bridgeport High School band practice field, which is directly behind BHS.
 
All car types and trucks are welcome.  There are no registration fees, but there will be dash plaques given to the first 50 entrants. It, too, has a rain date of June 27.
 
Also in attendance will be Mrs. West Virginia International Bryanna Williams. Williams is hosting a book drive and she is asking everyone to bring new or slightly used children’s books to the event to provide for children in need.
 
Locally, Christa Parker will be on hand representing Wreaths Across America. The group is responsible for decorating veteran’s graves at the Bridgeport Cemetery during the holidays. Military branch tags will be available where donations can be made to assist with the wreaths that are laid out annually.
 
“This has turned into a major event,” said Kerr. “We hope everyone comes out and enjoys themselves.”
 
Editor's Note: Photos show activities from past Family Days at City Park. Photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.


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