25th annual Record Family Day at the Park: Family fun, mascots, and activities
The Record’s annual Family Day at the Park is back in person this September with a 25th-year celebration after being online for two years due to the pandemic.
“It’s one of the happiest days of the year,” said Anna Sass, the event coordinator.
The free family event has provided fun and educational activities for the community for the past almost three decades.
An event that first started 25 years ago as a response to address Stockton’s struggling literacy rate.
“It's especially important for us this year because we've had two years off because of COVID. So, we took it virtual which was great. But we certainly lost that relationship piece. We weren't able to really engage with the kids. And so, this year is really special because we get to be back in person and it's our 25th and we get to experience family day altogether.” Sass said.
The event was originally held at Victory Park and then at the California State University, Stanislaus Stockton campus but now has moved to Weber Point in downtown Stockton.
The event draws more than 22,000 people every year, Sass said.
“It's just a fun-filled day of activities and learning,” Sass said.
A mascot parade will kick off the festivities at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 walking throughout the park. Everyone in the community is welcome to join and march alongside the mascots.
"Everyone is welcome," Record Executive Editor Don Blount said. "This is our signature event. We value literacy and learning and this is a time when we can encourage others to grow in those areas."
The event will have 13 fun areas to visit including Alphabet Alley, Creative Corner, Eco Expressway, Education Expressway, Friendly Freeway, Healthy Highway, King Author’s Court, Library Lane, Record Road, Recreation Road, Safety City, Satellite Health Care, and Transportation Nation.
“Our only requirement is that each booth has an interactive project for the kids and that can be something that they take home or it's something that they do at the event,” Sass said.
Local authors can be found reading books at the King Author’s Court. Some of the authors include Matthew Gollub and Orlando Molina.
At Library Lane, University of the Pacific students part of the Community Involvement Program (CIP) can be found dressed up as superheroes and princesses doing storytime.
Live music, face painting and more can be found at the family event.
Performing all day on the main stage sponsored by Kaiser Permanente will be the Cesar Chavez Music Department.
“We're just so thankful for all of the sponsors and participants who just come back year after year to give back to the community,” Sass said.
If You Go
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
Where: Weber Point, 221 N. Center St., Stockton
Admission: Free
Information: familydayatthepark.com
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: 25th annual Record Family Day at the Park: Family fun, mascots, and activities
