Try new activities at Carol Stream’s Just Play!

Some things are almost too good to be true.

Let’s say, for example, somebody was going to hold a two-day festival starting Saturday, May 19, and give you a chance to slide down a zip line or try out a scuba pond — for free.

Unbelievable, you say?

Nope, it’s true, according to organizers of Carol Stream’s JustPlay! Sports and Recreation Festival.

“We’ve gotten calls from people who say, ‘This is too good to be true. I can’t believe we can come and spend an entire weekend and just bring a lunch — that we can do this and not pay anything to have fun for the entire weekend,’” said Kelly Carbon, community relations specialist with the Carol Stream Park District.

The celebration at Town Center at the corner of Gary Avenue and Lies Road will include favorites such as the Eurobungy, scuba diving, a BMX stunt show, clinics, stage performances and much more. People can choose from more than 100 activities to participate in or watch.

The park district created the event several years ago as part of the national day of play. Organizers want to introduce people to all different types of recreational opportunities for families of all ages and hope people will maybe pick up a new hobby or a different way to exercise.

“It’s more activities-oriented rather than attraction-oriented,” Carbon said. “So if you’re looking for a carnival, it’s definitely not that. You’re going to come and get involved and get active. You’re actually going to be doing something.”

New this year is a 250-foot zip line, provided by The Fun Ones, that allows participants to travel in pairs at speeds up to 25 mph.

People also can watch demonstrations or jump in and give it a try with activities like lacrosse, mountain biking, football, speed pitching, bocce, kettlebell, jousting, juggling, foot bag, tumbling, curling and speedskating.

Adventurers can climb a 25-foot rock wall or hold a 10-foot boa constrictor.

There are all kinds of games from laser tag and Nerf wars to racing a remote control car; there are old-fashioned games, backyard games by the Brain Store, video games in The Game Dudes mobile gaming theater and a kids dash.

For those looking for a quieter activity, you can try organic gardening, pottery, cupcake decorating, guitar lessons, a photography challenge or a chess tournament.

Visitors also can join in fitness demonstrations such as Zumba, yoga or BodyPump; country line dancing; or super star karate demonstrations and clinics.

For the younger adventurers, activities include gyroballs; face painting; Moon Sand play; and tumbling. They can create spin art, learn origami or try knitting, crocheting and yarning crafts. The DuPage Children’s Museum will have kids’ activities, and counselors from the Carol Stream Park District will run supervised camp games and crafts.

The park district has partnered with businesses throughout the community to sponsor various activities — partnerships that allow Just Play! to remain free. Competitive tournaments — such as the basketball and bags tournaments — do have a cost, as do other activities in which you might win a cash prize.

“We do try to keep the most popular activities and always bring in something new every year,” Carbon said. “We just continue to add to the event.”

This year’s fest features two of the ultra popular Eurobungies. The Eurobungy uses multiple bungee cords attached to a harness that supercharges the trampoline experience by allowing jumpers to leap more than 20 feet high and even do flips.

A new partnership with the Chicago Bulls/Sox Academy brings experts who will give pitching, hitting and basketball tips.

New this year are performances by various bands including two teen bands — Haley Grant, and Hayden Ashley and his five piece band — taking the stage on Saturday, and rock cover band MissBehavin on Sunday afternoon.

Parking is across the street east of Gary Avenue on Lies Road. The site is under construction so a shuttle will run every 10 minutes from the parking area across the street to the festival.

For a complete list of activities, maps and shuttle information, visit justplay.org.

“Spend quality time with your family and it’s not going to cost you anything to get there,” Carbon said.

For information, call (630) 784-6100.

If you go

What: JustPlay! Sports and Recreation Festival

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20

Where: Town Center, Gary Avenue and Lies Road, Carol Stream

Cost: Free

Info: justplay.org or (630) 784-6100