REXBURG—Continuing the over 20-year tradition, Madison School District #321 is holding its annual Celebrate Youth event this week.
“It’s just an event that we have, to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year and just to bring the kids back together and have the first couple days of school not be so intimidating because they get to see each other again,” said Macail Chavez, director of communications for Madison School District. “They get to have a good time. And it's also a great way to get them excited about going to school.”
Celebrate Youth is a free event and offers kids the chance to meet and interact with fellow students, and local administrators before the start of the school year.
“We try to get them involved with meeting the admin and the teachers at the different games and setups that we have at the event, so they also get familiar with everybody there as well,” Chavez said.
In past years, Celebrate Youth events have brought in thousands of young and old to join in on the fun. This year’s theme for the event is “tropical oasis.” Kids can enjoy many different activities at the event like inflatables and bounce houses, vendors, games, a rock wall, a raffle and more.
The event is sponsored by local businesses which set up booths and host activities at the event. Ballet Folklorico Heritage is hosting cultural dancing at 4 p.m. Evans Hairstyling College and The Paul Mitchell School Rexburg will be at the event offering face painting and hair glitter.
“So, every year we try to bring in at least one new thing,” Chavez said. “We're going to try to do a hula hoop competition where we'll have two times during the event where kids will come up and they can do their hula hoop competition and whoever wins will win a gift card. And then we'll also have a tropical obstacle course.”
Celebrate Youth begins at 2 p.m. at Porter Park and will finish at 7. You can find more information about the Celebrate Youth event on the Madison School District website here.