By Kathryn Millhorn
“Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.” Author Regina Brett’s prescription can be easily filled at the 2015 Lacey Children’s Entertainment Series.
Happening Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. from June 23 through August 4, the series promises a wealth of free, outdoor entertainment for kids of every age. Co-sponsored by the Lacey Timberland Regional Library and the City of Lacey, the fun takes place at Lacey’s beautiful Huntamer Park.
A hidden jewel, Huntamer Park hosts many of the year’s best free entertainment. Whether you’re in the market for Zumba in the Park on a summer Saturday, green technology at the STEM Fair and Electric Car Rally, or a stroll through the annual Lacey Community Market, there’s always a reason to stop by. Keep up to date on these happenings via the city’s Parks Department Special Events webpage.
The Child Development Institute reports “storytelling opens children’s minds to other cultures and life philosophies; it develops the inner world of imagination and creative thinking. Children tap into their imaginative minds and provide their own imagery. Storytelling is also a way to bring history alive and inspire further exploration of historical events.” Active participation also fosters memory and language skills in an entertaining and memorable way.
Jordanne Beasley, Recreation Coordinator for the City of Lacey, is excited for this year’s line-up. There will be an array of storytellers, knights in armor, magicians, musicians, comics, and clowns, and “it is so fun to watch the kids get excited about a performer or crowd the stage to get a closer look.”
Beasley explains that “crowds range from 200-500 for children’s entertainment” and there is “no better way to spend time with your family, then packing a picnic and setting up camp in the park.”
Huntamer Park is located behind the Lacey Fred Meyer and easily walkable from Intercity Transit’s Lacey Transit Center. Lots of free parking is also always available. Some snack vendors are on site for the events but feel free to bring your own food, cool drinks, blankets, and beach chairs.
For questions about this year’s Children’s Entertainment Series, call the Lacey Parks and Recreation Offices at 360-491-0857.
2015 Children’s Entertainment Series performers include:
June 23: Marvelous Moo Moo Sisters – Interactive stories and music
June 30: Knights of Veritas – Travel back in time
July 7: the Brian Waite Band – Kids rock and roll
July 14: Roberto the Magnificent – Comedy stunt show
July 21: Jeff Evans – The magical adventures of Super Reader
July 28: Ronald McDonald – Silly clown show with a message
August 4: Eric Ode – High energy music concert
Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County. The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia and the surrounding area, click here.
