A couple of goals were accomplished at Winthrop Harbor’s annual Fun Fair Saturday in the Schlader Recreation Center.
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Adults and children alike were offered a break from the late winter doldrums, and a longtime volunteer and worker for the Winthrop Harbor Parks and Recreation Department was honored following her death earlier this month.
Scott Fuller, recreation coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, estimated Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, that at least 1,000 people had been through the fair since its 11 a.m. starting time.
He said it has been a tradition for about 20 years, and is timed to help families combat cabin fever.
“That’s why we do it this time of year,” Fuller said. “The original purpose was to do it in the winter when the kids and everyone else are feeling cooped up.”
This year’s program had a secondary purpose as well — staff members were all wearing shirts honoring Pam Humphres, a Recreation Board member with the village for more than 20 years, who died Feb. 10 due to an illness.
The shirts, featuring Pam’s picture, were also on sale, with $3 from the sale of each shirt going toward the annual fireworks show, which was one of her favorite events, according to her daughter Tanya DeBoey, who was at the fair with her children.
DeBoey said she was touched with the show of unity by parks and recreation staff and glad that her mom’s grandchildren were there to see it.
The fair featured more than 20 different games and tests of skill, including “The Wheel,” basketball shoot, darts, a traditional cake walk, and the chance for children to win either a goldfish or a mouse. There was also a Moonwalk for kids to bounce in, and raffles for prizes.
Some of the less conventional games seemed to be most attractive to kids, including “The Nose Picker,” in which children had to reach their arms through slimy passages to retrieve prizes.
That was listed as a favorite by 8-year-old Caden Cross of Zion and 9-year-old Marilyn Taft of Winthrop Harbor.
“It’s cool, it feels really good,” said Taft, who was able to grab a keychain featuring a silver dog attached for her efforts.
The Winthrop Harbor Police and Fire departments were also present, with activities and educational exhibits for all. Police also provided child fingerprint and DNA kits for parents to take home and have on hand should the information ever be needed in the event of a missing child.
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