Inflatables, carnival games with prizes, a silent auction and Principal Wright in a dunk tank are just a few exciting activities at West Side Elementary’s fall carnival 2-6 p.m. Saturday. The Parent Teacher Advisory Council will host the event to raise money for its playground project.
Each kindergarten through fifth-grade class has a game booth it has designed or set up, including a cupcake walk, a dino diamond dig, pickup ducks, pumkin ring toss, a toilet toss and many others. Each game rewards participants with tickets for donated prizes, candy or a prize unique to the activity, such as a photo from the silly photo booth.
Carnival games are playable with tickets that may be purchased for 50 cents each, and most games cost one or two tickets to play, with an opportunity to win prizes.
Participants may purchase a wristband for $10 for an all-access pass to the inflatables, or they can pay $20 for all day inflatables access, free face painting, one fre emeal and 10 game tickets.
Outdoor games will take place on the track side of the school, where the playground to be replaced is located. It will move indoors if it rains.
Families will enjoy face painting, glitter tattoos and numerous opportunities to win prizes.
The silent auction will have items like a Butch Jones signed University of Tennessee football, Jason Witten signed football cards, beautiful new jewelry, various gift baskets designed by each class, admission tickets to Dollywood, Wilderness at the Smokies, Brights Zoo, Knoxville Zoo, Tweetsie, the Elizabethton Twins and more. Bidders do not have to be present to win.
PTAC will be selling armbands to raise money for Jesse Hardin’s family to help with funeral expenses.
Chick-Fil-A, Food City and Ingles are supplying consessions, and drinks and snowcones will also be available.
The Playground Project is part of a larger initiative to prevent childhood obesity by encouraging activity and providing facilities that make it fun. It is estimated to cost $80,000 and will feature handicap accessible swings and possibly a slide.
“We don’t have anything for handicapped children to play on anywhere in Carter County,” said PTAC President Alainya Hare.
Regina May, mother of three at West Side and head of the playground committee, has been researching grants to help fund the project.
Some features of the playground may remain like the newer swing set and seesaws, but according to Hare, much of the equipment is outdated. One of the swing sets even has a wooden support in the center to help stabilize it.
The new design features seven slides, climbing walls, monkey bars, stairs and ladders in an innovative design that will inevitably inspire activity and creativity at play time.
For more information regarding the Playground Project or the carnival, contact Alainya Hare at alainyadpm@gmail.com or Regina May at reginamay@chartertn.net.