A lot to do and learn at the Family Expo
3/17/2014
On March 8, I had the pleasure of bringing my 8 year old daughter to the Family Expo at the Jacksonville Fairgounds hosted by Jax4Kids.com and Duval County Public Schools. Booths were set up indoors by various local vendors/organizations like Rebounderz, i9 Sports, YMCA, DCPS Parent Academy, and our very own Jacksonville Public Education Fund, to name a few. Most vendors were set up to promote their Spring Break and Summer Camp programs available and to answer any questions about their services in general.
While I took the time to learn about the different programs and enter contests for movie tickets and free summer camp admission, my daughter was entertained with various activities. She was able to watch videos, participate in coloring activities, play with toys, learn how to do an assisted backflip, and even pet a live snake and alligator. All of the vendors did a wonderful job informing the parents while keeping the kids occupied.
As an added bonus for the kids, there was a Family Fun Zone set up in a separate room where they could get their face painted, watch crowd-interactive puppet shows, get a caricature drawing, and play games. But, the fun didn't stop there! Bouncy houses, rock climbing, and train rides were set up outdoors while beloved mascots like Curious George, Clifford, and DJ the Dog roamed around and posed for pictures. My daughters favorite outdoor event was when she was able to participate in the Darius Next Level Training demo by former Jacksonville Jaguar star Donovin Darius. Donovin hosted mini training sessions for the kids and ran them through various obstacles and drills focusing on speed and agility. All of the kids were extremely focused and determined to impress the former Jaguar player who is clearly very passionate about teaching kids about fitness. He was also extremely friendly and willing to pose for pictures and even goof off with the kids.
Did I mention that this fun-filled event was completely free? If you haven't been to the Family Expo before, I highly recommend that you bring the family next year to experience all the fun and excitement this event has to offer!
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Adrian Larson