Seventh Annual Family Fun Day a blast in Scully Park

[July 20, 2015]  LINCOLN - On Saturday, July 18th, every foot of Scully Park in downtown Lincoln was moving with energy. It was Family Fun Day and people, games, food, fun, song and fellowship filled the park all day. The all-free event has been hosted and sponsored by Open Arms Christian Fellowship for the past seven years.

Numerous large bounce houses, each with its own theme and various challenges, provided youth with oodles of opportunities for testing their skill, fun play with friends and siblings, and simply burning off energy, and some bounce houses were even suitable for adult use where families played together.

There was a variety of old-fashioned skill games, such as toss the ball in the buckets or toss rings over posts, and there were games of chance like pick a floating ducky and see what is says on the bottom. The photo booth with a variety of hats for dress up, and face painting were also quite popular. And, no kid needed to leave the park without stuff they won by trading in tokens at picking their treasure at the prize booths.


Sandwiches, drinks and sweets of all sorts were also free. Saturday's over 100 degree heat index made sno-cones the most popular treat of the day.

Everyone registered before going out to enjoy everything offered for free. Adults were entered in drawings that included two $225 gift certificates, and one prize to pay an Ameren bill up to $250.

Each year the Fun Day has grown in attendance and offerings, activities are added or changed around. Last year, there were 2,000 people in attendance, and 3,000 were anticipated this year.

Kids at every station were smiling and laughing as they participated in the wide variety of activities. Parents and grandparents seemed to be enjoying the day as well. All were happy and having a great time, except a few children who cried when their parents said it was time to go home.

Additional seating was available during the day under a tent in front of the main stage. Local Christian artists and popular bands kept the stage alive, music was in the air and toes tapping.

Closing out the day and back by popular demand was featured musician Ricky Hilton. Hilton has his fourth CD currently ready for release.

The event was also supported by a variety of area departments and agencies with a fire truck, city police car and a Humvee on display.

Family Solutions was also present with a display. The agency assists with foster care and adoptions. They also provide family therapeutic counseling.

Open Arms Pastor Larry Crawford observed that it was mostly families that filled the park but there were also older people, couples and some kids on their own. The event provides something that many families would not otherwise be able to afford with everything offered for free. It also brings people together of different backgrounds.

The ultimate goal Crawford says is, "We want everyone in our community to know the love of Christ."

Open Arms Christian Fellowship is a moving church, literally and figuratively. The very next day after Family Fun Day, on Sunday, July 19th, was the first Worship Service in the church's new location.

Moving from the old Gossett's Dry Cleaner on Broadway Street with 4,700 sq. feet to 813 Woodlawn, the former Family Dollar store with 11,700 sq. feet, the completely remodeled area now gives the church more room to grow.

Another way the church tries to bring the community together and shows the love of Christ is at Thanksgiving time with a free community meal.

For the summer-time, the all-day long Family Fun Day brought families and people of all ages together for more memorable good times as a community.

[Jan Youngquist]

Open Arms Christian Fellowship
"A church of a second chance"
813 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln