The 15th annual Madison School District Celebrate Youth event will be larger than ever. What started out as a small event to celebrate the students of the district the week before school starts has grown into a major event.
This year, the district expects about 15,000 people to converge on Porter Park in Rexburg to attend and experience the event on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
The event includes 22 carnival games, bounce houses, two rock-climbing walls, the carousel, a train ride, A Blackhawk helicopter, and more than 100 sponsors who will have booths set up to hand out information about their services, provide some entertainment and give kids some fun swag.
"Block out your entire day and just plan to be there," said Jessica Goudy with Madison County School District #321. "Pack the sunscreen and some bottled water and come spend the day with us and celebrate 15 years of this amazing community event."
The free event goes from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. You don't have to park around the park. You can park your car at Madison Jr. High and take a free shuttle to the park. Once at the park, you can go to one of four "party stations" at the corners of the park to receive an event guide and a bag to collect your swag.
"Cause who doesn't love swag?" Goudy asked. "Hopefully, they're leaving with a bag full of swag and a feeling of pride, not just for the Bobcats - go red! - but a feeling of pride in where they live in this unique community, because these things don't happen in other places."
The event is made possible through those more than 100 sponsors and through the donated time of hundreds of volunteers. Goudy said it's not too late to volunteer. You can sign up on the event's website or you can simply show up to the park and ask to volunteer. Those who spend three hours volunteering will get a T-shirt.
"It takes an army to pull off an event like this," Goudy said.