About 150 people recently attended an area-wide, back-to-school event with recreational activities and animals at Southwest Chicago Christian School in Oak Lawn.
“It’s just about families coming together and community coming together and just catching up and getting ready to kick off the school year,” said Southwest Christian School Principal Nate Pettinga. “We open it up to all the families. We advertise in the neighborhood. The whole point is to be community-oriented but also family friendly.”
The Family Fun Night last week had an exhibit and discussion on porcupines, skunks, woodchucks, coyotes and wolves. The animals were rescued and cared for at Big Run Wolf Ranch in Lockfort.
The event at 10110 Central Ave. also included a bounce house and a Disney movie, “The Good Dinosaur.”
More Top Picks Best Pedal Go Karts For Kids
With the exception of a charge for food and drinks, the event was free.
Latricia Gordon, of Chicago, said the fun night works well for her family. She said the play time with school friends they may not have seen all summer was a good way for her three children, Stephen, 8; Grace, 6, and James, 4, to “get the energy out” before classes start.
Chanita Britton, who attended the event with her 3-year-old daughter, Lyric, had a similar view.
“I thought it was nice that the families, especially the new families, would get together before school started,” Britton said.
Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.