For families with children too short to ride carnival rides, Spring Fling’s Kids Korner provides a special space featuring games and activities perfect for the little ones.
Located on the west side of Spring Fling near the entrance to the carnival, Kids Korner boasts a weekend schedule of different activities targeted toward ensuring all members of the family have a good time.
“I think where Spring Fling differs from other carnivals is there’s a specific area where if you have younger children they can come and have fun while you all have fun together,” said Josler Tudisco, the Spring Fling marketing director.
Kids Korner kicks off Saturday, April 14, with arts and crafts. Throughout the day, volunteers will lead children in bingo, story time and interactive sensory tables.
“This year, what we were really trying to focus on was this sensory — a lot of sensory skills and creativity for the kids,” Tudisco said. “So there’s a lot of drawing, there’s face painting, bingo, that sort of thing.”
Also notable are solar-powered race cars for children to play with. SolarCats, a club dedicated to promoting solar power at the University of Arizona, worked with Kids Korner to bring this environmentally aware activity to kids.
On Sunday morning, the Cat in The Hat will make a special visit to Kids Korner. Sunday will also feature balloon artists, face painting and classic carnival games for kids to enjoy.
The Tucson Children’s Museum will also be at Kids Korner for most of the day Sunday with their own special events for kids.
“Sunday is typically our family-branded day,” Tudisco said. “So on Sunday we have a lot of families come out.”
Kids Korner is run by over 40 volunteers who sign up and are then trained to work with children.
“It is such a great vibe because everyone is just so happy to be there,” Tudisco said. “You’re working with kids. How can you be sad?”
Parents stay with their children while their kids enjoy all Kids Korner has to offer. In the event a child is separated from their parents, volunteers are prepared to properly handle the situation.
Families can also take advantage of the Family Resource Map available on the Spring Fling’s website.
The map, put together by UA Life and Work Connections, highlights key areas that parents might need to use during the fair, such as family restrooms, changing stations and lactation spaces.
Kids Korner provides a space for family members of all ages to come together and enjoy the carnival and spend time with each other.
“The directors and I always talk … about how we put so much work into this Spring Fling,” Tudisco said. “The second you see a kid laughing, you’re like ‘OK, that’s why we did it.’”
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