Children's Carnival was colossal collaborative success

Hundreds of people walked, strolled and rolled through Wicker Park on June 18, stopping to participate in many of the fun activities or just talk with friends and neighbors from the Damen and Wicker Park Ave. entrance to the Damen and Schiller entrance including an area along the south side of the field. The event was the Wicker Park Children's Carnival.

Three inflatables, two from the Chicago Park District and one from Mosaic Church, provided lots of bouncing opportunities to the energized crowd under eleven, while face painting, carnival games and activities, the Magic Boat Puppet Show, Gorilla Tango Theater performers, YoYo experts and enthusiasts drew crowds of participants and viewers of all ages .

The Junior League of Chicago provided an educational "health train" that focused on healthy life choices for kids while Easle Art, 1911 North Milwaukee, had an area for creating crafts and Cat and Mouse, 2212 W. Armitage, provided games for all ages.

Popcorn and snow cone machines, provided by Mosaic Church, produced treats that were a big hit with all visitors. Some enjoyed planting lettuce in pots which they took home to harvest later in the summer, thanks to the Wicker Park Garden Club.

Under the auspices of the Wicker Park Advisory Council (WPAC), Sam Anderson of Missio Dei Chicago chaired the event. The legions of volunteers included thirty to thirty-five from Missio Dei, ten from Mosaic Church, another ten to fifteen from Church in the City, five from the Wicker Park Garden Club and all the people from the participating organizations.

All of this was made possible by the talents, inkind dollars and financial and material donations from organizations involved and the Chicago Park District. Missio Dei gave out 1900 prizes at the wonderful carnival games they had on the south side of the Park, but it is impossible to know the real count of those involved in the day's activities. While some say 500 others think it was closer to 900.

Anderson said about his group, "We want to be good neighbors. Our God loves the people of Wicker Park very much and we want everyone to have fun."  Scott Venable, pastor of Mosaic Church said, "It is awesome to see the different parts of the community come together and put on such a great event." Doug Wood of the Wicker Park Garden Club, who is the WPAC Events Coordinator, said, "These groups working collaboratively cut costs and make exciting things happen."

 

Watch for more photos in Around and About section