KidsFest slated for this Saturday at Berkeley Mall
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 21, 2016 9:57 AM
KidsFest will take place at Berkeley Mall this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with law enforcement and first responders on scene to educate children and their families about fire, safety and health in a fun and safe environment.
The event is sponsored by the Wayne County Health Department and the Goldsboro Fire Department, in partnership with the Goldsboro Police Department, the Bridge Church, the Partnership for Children of Wayne County, Wayne Community College and the Wayne County Public Library.
There will be entertainment on stages inside the mall and outside the mall provided by Drummer's World, Dance for Christ, Ordinary Gentlemen and more.
At the front entrance of the mall, Operation Medicine Drop will be available so people can dispose of their prescriptions they no longer need.
The Goldsboro Fire Department and the Red Cross will be on hand to sign people up for free smoke alarm testing.
Goldsboro Fire Marshal John Morton said smoke alarms are not given out for free, but the smoke alarm testing is free, which is what people can sign up for.
Morton said smoke alarms have batteries and detection systems that are guaranteed for 10 years, but no more than that, and should be tested regularly.
"We're willing to sacrifice our weekend, because if this saves just one life then it's worth it," Morton said.
There will also be car seat safety checks at the event in addition to the smoke alarm testing sign up.
Additionally, KidsFest will have a 911 simulator, fingerprinting and photo identification, roughly 50 vendor and exhibition tables and more.
Children in attendance will be entertained by self-defense demonstrations, face painting, balloon artists, music, dancing, storytelling and plenty of other hands-on activities.
There will also be mascots to promote fire safety and crime prevention. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will have Big Jim, a roughly 10-foot-tall fireman, and Sparky the fire prevention dog will be at KidsFest, as well as others.
Door prizes will be awarded to attendees throughout the event.
The entire event and everything at the event is free, and will not cost the public anything. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.