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JAMESTOWN – Children in Jamestown are set to welcome summer vacation this Friday, during a special event aimed at keeping kids active and entertained over break.
“The Hello Summer Event, it’s the end of school so we’re saying hello to summer. We start the event at noon and it’ll run from noon till four at the Northwest Ice Arena. Right now, it looks like good weather, so hopefully it’s outside. If it rains, we’ll go inside,” explained Patrick Smeraldo, Owner and Director of Collaborative Children’s Solutions.
Featuring free child entertainment, including Marty’s Bubblegum Machine, an interactive music show, “Pirates Arr for You” and Nickel City Reptiles, the Hello Summer Festival kicks off Friday.
The celebration also gives parents and guardians an opportunity to sign their children up for programs and services over the summer.
“There are many human service agencies that have already committed,” says Smeraldo. “From Chautauqua County, different agencies, Jamestown Community Learning Council, the Resource Center, all these agencies will be there to sign the kids up for services that they may require and make contact with them over the summer. We’ve also heard from Ballgame Heroes who will be there, Jamestown area midget football league will be there to sign kids up for other activities to keep them busy.”
Smeraldo hopes this celebration will be an opportunity for kids to reconnect with others and with activities that they missed out on during the pandemic.
“We’re back with day camps at the Y, the LEAP program and the JUMP program through Jamestown Public Schools. They’re happening. We have sports camps that are back and happening. We have all these things that went away for a little bit that are now happening and kind of inching their way back in to keep the kids busy and active. Take a little pressure off the parents, and maybe open their eyes to something new for lack of a better term,” says Smeraldo.
Later in the day, event moves to Diethrick Park for a Tarp Skunks baseball game at 7 p.m. which will be followed by fireworks to cap the night. Tickets for the game can be purchased on the teams website.
Collaborative Children’s Solutions also plans on hosting a Christmas in July, Labor Day Weekend celebrations, and another Holiday Parade.
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