Seventh Annual Family Fun Day a blast
in Scully Park
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[July 21, 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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