Addilynn Dierkes plays with bubbles during Youth Services System’s 2024 Celebrate Youth Festival at Wheeling Park. YSS has scheduled this year’s event for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 14 with free activities, food and more available. (File photo)

WHEELING — Families can enjoy one last day of fun at Wheeling Park before the school year begins Park during the 18th annual Celebrate Youth Festival on Thursday, August 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The annual free community event brings together youth and families at the park with free wristbands, back-to-school supplies, lunch and a variety of activities.

Attendees can obtain free wristbands from 10 a.m. until the park closes at the pool or mini-golf course. The complimentary park wristbands provided by Youth Services System grant access to activities including the pool, mini-golf and paddle boat rides. The amphitheater will also have bouncy castles.

The Wheeling Park J.B. Chambers Memorial Rink will house around 60 local exhibitors, offering resources for parents and activities for children. Returning exhibitors include the Wheeling Nailers, West Virginia Northern Community College, Oglebay Good Zoo and Northwood Health Systems.

YSS Director of Development and Public Relations Tammy Kruse said both parents and children can benefit from the information and resources provided by the exhibitors.

She noted that parents seeking a specific resource for their child may come across another organization that can also assist them.

“It’s kind of like grocery shopping since you know what you want to buy, but as you’re walking up and down the aisles, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s right I’m out of soy sauce,’ and you pick that up too,” Kruse said. “Parents may see a resource that they didn’t even think about and then realize, ‘Oh yeah, 4-H could be a really fun thing that my kids could enjoy next summer.’ I think that’s a huge part of how important this day is for families as a whole- not just the kids.”

Other activities at the rink will include the Fun-Raiser Urban Mobile Playground, Buster the Bus, face painting, a craft table and science demonstrations.

Free food will be available at the rink beginning at 11 a.m. YSS staff and volunteers will be serving hot dogs, nachos, pizza, chips, drinks and more.

Kruse credited YSS Special Events Coordinator Holly Fox for organizing activities and resources for the festival. Holly added the hard work of YSS staff, volunteers and exhibitors keep smiles on children’s faces throughout the event.

“We have a former employee who comes and passes out bags, and he’s just a hoot,” Fox said. “We have other volunteers and exhibitors who are die-hard and stay at the event past closing so every family is served.”

Kruse added that a variety of sponsors, including businesses, nonprofits and churches, have stepped up to help cover the cost of the 1,000 to 1,500 wristbands handed out during the event.

“We’ve had a nice turnout with sponsorships,” Kruse said. “We started planning early, and what’s nice is that people are still donating. People are still sponsoring the event, and it’s become something that I think a lot of people look forward to.”

Kruse said that families can enjoy a day at the park, which could cost upwards of $100, for free during the event. She noted the free day of fun provides an opportunity for families to enjoy the park who may not typically be able to cover the cost.

“If you think about the costs of wristbands for a family of four in addition to lunch, this event is like a free vacation for people,” Kruse said. “This is something that they can enjoy that they don’t have to worry about saving up for.”

Kruse added that the event can also serve as a “final day of fun” for families before the start of the school year.

“It’s important that we do this right before school starts since it’s a fun end of the summer for families,” Kruse said. “This can be the last hurrah and dip in the pool for families since the pool will close on Labor Day. They can get their last bit of fun in while also taking care of some of that back-to-school shopping.”

The event will also help prepare children for their return to the classroom. YSS has prepared over 1,200 backpacks filled with school supplies to hand out to families, including crayons, pencils, erasers, pens, highlighters and notebooks

In addition to giving one last day of summer fun to families, Kruse also hopes the event will provide comfort to families impacted by the flash flooding on Saturday, June 14, in several areas of Ohio County. She noted that many families impacted by the flood have not only lost items like school supplies but also had to endure a “very tough” summer of clean-up and recovery.

“So many families are still too engrossed in flood recovery to think about what they may need for school,” Kruse said. “I’m hoping that this becomes a location where people will come and remember, ‘Oh my gosh, I do need school supplies, so let me just come and take everything we can get.’ We also have exhibitors who can connect them with resources such as therapy.”

Kruse said the event could allow flood victims and volunteers to “press pause” on their efforts and “just have a great day.”

“People cannot really leave the flooding, but they can pause for a moment and say there are other things that we still have to do,” Kruse said. “I look at the festival as just a time for families to stop, enjoy the moment, and make the best of it. I hope this brings hope to people who may have lost some hope because of the floods.”

WVU Medicine is one of this year’s Diamond Level sponsors. Those interested in joining CFOV, Encova Insurance, Kalkruth Roofing & Sheet Metal, Kiwanis Club of Wheeling, Marshall County Commission, Rohrig Financial, USI Insurance, Wheeling Heritage, Wheeling Park Commission, WVU Medicine, numerous church groups and anonymous donors to become a sponsor, contact Kruse at tkruse@ysswv.com or 304-233-9627, ext. 427.

For more information about the event or to become an exhibitor, fill out the registration form on the YSS website or contact Fox at hfox1@ysswv.com.