Main Street plans Family Fun Day

A duck derby, softball game, corn hole tournament, safety demonstrations and healthy snacks are all part of Family Fun Day planned for Aug. 9.

The event, sponsored by the Main Street Organization and LaRue County Health Department, will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Hodgenville's Creekfront Park.

Main Street Director Rhonda Weidman said several agencies have agreed to sponsor games and booths.

Demonstrations include ATV safety, tractor rollover, car/truck rollover, electricity safety, fire trucks and fire safety, and drunk goggles. The sheriff's office will provide children's ID kits.

The health department will provide blood pressure checks and heel scans to monitor for osteoporosis.

The American Cancer Society will pass out packets of sunscreen. LifeNet helicopter service and the Jumping Eagles may make an appearance.

“We at the health department hope everyone will come out and participate in the fun activities that are planned,” said Community Health Educator Fran Cox. “The games and activities that are planned will emphasize the importance of increasing daily physical as well as fresh, local and healthy foods.

The fire departments will provide an inflatable fire truck for children. Other games for children include a football toss, three-legged race, hulahoop contest and watermelon seed-spitting contest.

There will be sack races in three age groups - 5-10, 11-15 and 16 and up - from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Three water balloon toss contests will be held between 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

There is no entry fee for the children's contests and ribbons will be awarded.

There will be a watermelon seed-spitting contest for men, women, youth ages 8-15 and children 7 and under.

Games for younger children will be set up in a separate area.

A duck derby will also be held at the creek. Rubber ducks will be available to sponsor for $1 each.

"They will be numbered and dumped over the bridge into the creek," said Weidman. "The first three ducks across the finish line will receive cash prizes."

Prizes will be $15 for first; $10 for second; and $5 for third.

Weidman said a corn hole tournament is being planned, but she needs a volunteer to run the tournament. There is no entry fee and prizes will be provided to the winners.

There will be a dunking booth open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A small fee will be charged per toss.

"We hope to get some 'dunk worthy' people to sit in the booth," said Weidman. "They need to be good sports who can sit there about 30 minutes."

The National Park Service will organize several pioneer games.

Food booths will include lemonade by the county's 4-H clubs, apple slices from McDonald's and pork producers. Water will be available at an information booth.

The information booth will provide times of activities and a survey. Participants who complete the survey and turn it in to participating merchants will receive a percentage off a purchase.

At 2 p.m., there will be a slow pitch softball game between Hodgenville Methodist Church and First Baptist Church teams. The winner will be awarded a traveling trophy in what Weidman hopes will be an annual event.

Main Street will also sponsor a community yard sale at the Hodgenville Civic Center parking lot, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. There is a setup fee.

For more information about Family Fun Day activities or yard sale, or to volunteer to organize events, contact Weidman at 358-5913.