Get moving at Des Plaines Pooch, Pet & Pedal Parade
Families, enjoy free activities, a fashionable parade and fun in the sun at the 10th annual Spring Fun Fair Saturday, May 20, at Mountain View Adventure Center and Prairie Lakes Community Center.
The annual Pooch, Pet & Pedal Parade, run by the city of Des Plaines Special Events Commission, rolls through the starting gate at 10 a.m. and features awards for Best Theme, Best Wheels, Best Helmet, Best Tail Wagger and more. Following the parade, all kids are encouraged to the Be Active and run in the park district's 50-Yard Dash on the Prairie Lakes field, try their skills on the Rock Climbing Wall, and bounce through the inflatable Obstacle Course.
Mountain View is at 515 E. Algonquin Road. Prairie Lakes is at 510 E. Thacker Street. Free parking for the event is provided by Juno Lighting, across the street from the Mountain View entrance.
The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce sponsors one of the most popular events of the year - Touch-A-Truck - this year in the Mountain View parking lot. Kids of every age can climb in all kinds of trucks, big rigs and specialty vehicles, including a Des Plaines Police Department squad roll, Command Post, squad car, and ATV; a Des Plaines Public Works dump truck and street sweeper; a semi-truck from Johler Demolition; the Maine Township Office of Emergency Management communications truck and a flatbed wrecker and car from Schimka Auto Wreckers. Nicor Gas will be on hand, the park district will have a pickup truck and trailer, and Two Men and A Truck will build their unique Box Castle alongside one of the Two Men Moving Trucks.
Once again, the Des Plaines Healthy Community Foundation is generously providing 100 children with free bike helmets. Parents should bring their child to the tent and have a helmet properly fitted for safe riding. The Des Plaines Public Library will be promoting the 2017 Summer Reading Club. At their table, residents can also sign up for a library card, and spin the prize wheel. Fresh popcorn will be the attraction at the Des Plaines Friends of The Parks booth. Golf Center Des Plaines will have a Putting Contest, and demonstrate SNAG Golf for ages 5-8.
Among the many other organizations taking part in this communitywide event are: the Des Plaines History Center, Medulla Health, members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, city of Des Plaines Social Services, the Des Plaines Garden Club, and Presence Holy Family Hospital.
As a special addition to the festivities, members of the cast of High School Musical will perform a few numbers, at noon, in the Mountain View lot, courtesy of Spotlight Youth Theater. The show runs in the Prairie Lakes Theater May 19-28.
"This is a wonderful event for families, and it gets bigger every year," said Cindy Yelich, recreation supervisor for the Des Plaines Park District. "It's great to see so many people come out to enjoy the park, all of the free activities, and learn about everything our city has to offer."
For information about events at the Des Plaines Park District, visit DPParks.org or call (847) 391-5700.
• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.