Second annual Salsa Festival to be a family affair

The Parks, Recreation and Libraries (PRL) department is at it again, working hard to make the City of Maricopa’s second annual Salsa Festival presented by inmaricopa.com the biggest event in our city’s history.

As families who attended Founder’s Day 2005 can attest, the youngest residents of our community are a huge focus in the planning of these events. Founder’s Day offered 10 carnival style games, a dunk tank, a face painter, snow cones and a bike rodeo.

This year’s Salsa Festival will offer more than a dozen carnival style games with over 3,000 prizes up for grabs. Youngsters can stop by the face-painter’s booth, enjoy snow cones provided by Calvary Chapel and take a turn or two on a 15′ bounce house or 18′ bounce slide donated by Pump it Up.

“All of our events are designed with families in mind and as such, having enough things for kids to do is paramount to ensuring a successful event,” stated PRL Director Martin McDonald.

Kids can test their skill at the Cow Milking Contest.

Free Snow Cones, courtesy of Calvary Chapel.

Community of Hope Church is sponsoring the children’s activities at this year’s event. “We are proud to be the sponsor of the Kids’ Zone for the Salsa Festival,” said Pastor Rusty Akers. “We always enjoy being a part of what is going on in Maricopa, and we are looking forward to some “hot” fun!”

“We are excited to have the Community of Hope Church sponsor the Kids’ Zone activities,” said McDonald. “These games were a huge hit at Founder’s Day last fall, and hundreds of children went home with various prizes and tons of smiles.”

Arizona Amusements & Entertainment has once again been contracted to provide the carnival games and face painter. They will also be hosting a concessions tent for the Salsa Festival, offering a variety of munchies like soft pretzels, nachos, churros, cotton candy and frozen lemonade. A portion of all proceeds from the concessions will be donated back to the PRL department.

Founder’s Day Carnival games made for a real family outing.

From AZ Amusements – “Froggy Fly Fling,” “Cow Pie Fly,” “Shooting Gallery” and “Rattlesnake Roundup.”

Even with expectations of over 2,500 attendees for this event, thanks to the generosity of all the sponsors, admission to the Salsa Festival will be free for everyone.

The Maricopa Salsa Festival presented by inmaricopa.com will take place Saturday, April 29, from 12 – 3 p.m. at Maricopa High School. For additional information, please contact McDonald at (520) 568-9098, Ext. 204 or via email.