The La Porte County YMCA puts a safe, healthy spin on Halloween without sacrificing any of the sugar. Family Fun Night has been a growing community tradition for over fifteen years.
Candy is a requirement of any Halloween celebration. The YMCA coupled it with activities like a ring toss, cornhole, and musical stepping stones. The pool was available for open swim.
They even had a haunted trail walk through the woods at the Andrew Ave. Kid’s Camp location.
“As I get older and as my kids get older, we have a lot of memories together,” said YMCA CEO Cindy Berchem. “I think it’s important to build memories. The volunteers here doing games, came here when they were kids. Halloween is a tradition with families and children. They are going to be doing something for Halloween and we’d like them to do it here with us.”
Elizabeth Downs, the Healthy Living Director, said, “Our whole mission here is really to serve the community. So any time we can bring them together is a positive. You can never have too much positive in the community.”
The entire event was free of charge so that no member of the community would be left out. YMCA staff spent all day decorating spider webs, coffins, and crime scenes. They had a blast. Over a thousand children, parents, and grandparents enjoyed the fruits of their labors.
“My kids are loving this,” said father Robb Neal. “The people at the Y really put a lot of effort into throwing the kids a party, and we appreciate that. It shows they care.”
Val Martinson has been volunteering at the Family Fun Nights for six years.
“I love this fair,” she said. “It’s always huge. I love that it’s a free opportunity for the community to come in, bring their kids, play games, spend time together, and see what can be done for them at the YMCA.”
