Nov. 5, 2009

Contact: Richard Symchak – 837-8032

FREE FAMILY FESTIVAL IN THE PARK OFFERS FUN AND MORE NOV. 14

Tucson Parks and Recreation presents its 4th Annual Family Festival in the Park Saturday, Nov.14 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Reid Park, 22^nd Street and Country Club.

“Our free annual community-wide event is all about family fun, and it offers a terrific opportunity to showcase the people, programs and activities that help us serve the community through Parks and Recreation,” said Marci Gregg, event coordinator.

Returning as co-sponsors for this year’s event, expected to attract more than 8,000 people to participate in a variety of games and activities for all ages, are Citadel Broadcasting and the Dan Felix Memorial Fund.

Family activities include stage entertainment, carnival games, inflatables, crafts, golf clinic, tennis games, a Turkey Trot event where you can win a free Thanksgiving turkey and a display of Parks and Recreation equipment.

Admission to the Reid Park Zoo will be free all day, and the Zoo Express will feature free train rides around the park’s large pond. The Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center will host an afternoon of free swimming, and Tucson City Golf will offer a free 10-minute golf instruction at the Randolph Driving Range adjacent to the park on Alvernon Way from 10 a.m.-noon.

A giant walk-through book display highlights the various Parks and Recreation units offering services and programs to the community.

Entertainment presented by Parks and Recreation and Citadel Broadcasting will be presented throughout the day on a mobile stage located north of the large pond. A variety of food will be available for purchase.

ADDED FAMILY FESTIVAL ATTRACTION

A double flatbed truck carrying the 85-foot 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree – often called “The People’s Tree” -- makes a Family Festival stop from 8:30-9:30 a.m. as part of a 24-city Arizona tour. This is the first year the tree that will be on display for the holidays in Washington, D.C. has come from Arizona, and schoolchildren throughout Arizona, including local KIDCO program participants, have made 5,000 ornaments for the tree.

The public is invited to a Tree Welcoming ceremony to be held at the tree, on Lakeshore Drive near the zoo entrance, at 9 a.m. Featured will be a reading of a Mayor’s Proclamation, a song by an East District KIDCO group and a presentation of tree ornaments.

Family Festival visitors are encouraged to use the Concert Way entrance off Country Club or the Reid Park Zoo entrance off Randolph Way, both of which offer plentiful free parking.

For more information contact Parks Administration at 791-4873.