The South Peninsula Hospital spring Safe and Healthy Kids Fair returns to Homer for the 31st year. The event takes place outside of the Homer High School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be at least 25 booths and other free entertainment for kids, according to Annie Garay, coordinator of the event.
This year the KP Brass will play, as well as the Homer Youth String Orchestra. The Sea Leg Stilt Troupe will also perform. Kids can bring bikes and helmets for a free bike inspection and participate in a bike rodeo sponsored by Cycle Logical, with helmets required and available for purchase at a discounted price.
BOB the Bookmobile of Friends of the Homer Public Library will be available for browsing. The Friends website states that the goal with BOB, or Books on Board, is “to promote reading and lifelong learning by providing access to books for people in the community who are unserved or underserved.”
A fire truck and ambulance will be there for tour and photos. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be promoting boating safety. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will promote Kids Don’t Float, a statewide injury prevention program that was developed to address Alaska’s high child and youth drowning rate. Started in Homer in 1996, the program set up life jacket loaner stations in Homer Harbor.
Other booths will include the Resiliency Coalition with “block party” kits (a party in a box); Changing Tides Therapy Services; The Center with games to learn self regulation tools; Pier One Theatre; Summit Physical Therapy; Homer Animal Services; Homer Animal Friends providing safety skills with pets; and Fireweed Academy.
Two Anchorage booths coming to town for the event are The Hmboob Cultural Center — a female-owned, early child development center — and the Alaska Autism Resource Center.
The Safe and Healthy Kids Fair is organized by a committee representing local organizations whose missions include facilitating healthy outcomes and injury prevention for youth, according to a press release from South Peninsula Hospital.
For information on ADA accessibility, email safeandhealthykidsfair@gmail.com or call 235-0285.
