Early birds
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on November 25, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Anna Sauls, 4, and Davis Hunter, 4, paint a "pumpkin" at the Arts Council's "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" party Saturday morning. The festivities also included making hand turkeys.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Mariah Budine helps her nephew, Bryce, color his hand turkey. Bryce came to the event dressed as Charlie Brown.
At the "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" party, 4-year-old Davis Hunter ended up painting the table as much as his pumpkin.
And Anna Sauls, 4, ended up about as orange as hers.
Arts Council executive director Sarah Merritt did not seem to mind.
"You are all artists," she said.
Twenty children crammed around tables Saturday morning, awaiting instructions for their crafts.
Mrs. Merritt broke down the instructions so even the youngest could understand and follow along.
She allowed the children to work at their own pace -- and work with washable paint and kid-sized scissors to avoid a pre-holiday disaster.
The "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" party featured pumpkins made out of paper bags, hand turkeys, snacks and a movie viewing.
J'Mari McClaire, 11, was most excited about the movie.
"I really like Charlie Brown," he said.
J'Mari enjoys Thanksgiving.
He said his favorite part is "family, or food" -- and that he was going to give the hand turkey he created at the event to his mom.
Mrs. Merritt greeted the children by name before leading them through their crafts.
Many of them are repeat visitors, she said, and attend different events throughout the year.
"A lot of them have been coming here for years," Arts Council office manager Letisha Banks said. "We always do the 'Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' and we always do the gingerbread house building."