By Joey McWilliams
DURANT – Summertime isn’t officially here yet, the fun times of summer are starting already.
The Choctaw Nation is hosting a Free Kids’ Fair on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Event Center, located at 3702 Choctaw Road in Durant.
Free hot dogs and drinks will be provided to go along with all the fun activities for the children.
Kat DeCaire, Foster Care Recruiter for the Choctaw Nation, said the event is open to anybody and everybody that would like to come out and start their summer with some fun.
“We are going to have all kinds of carnival and cultural games that include a cupcake walk for the kids,” DeCaire said. “The National Guard is going to bring out a rock wall and is going to have an obstacle course. We’ll have local talent entertaining us throughout the day.
“Not to mention all the vendors, which are the Choctaw Nation departments. Different departments are going to host the different carnival and cultural games.
“We also have a culture corner where you will find ways to connect with our Choctaw culture, and you can meet the Choctaw dancers, a real-life Choctaw princess, Stickball demonstrators, cornhusk doll making and the newest thing, which we’re calling A Taste of Choctaw, where you can sample three traditional Choctaw dishes.
It is also a chance for DeCaire and the organizers of the event to help raise awareness of the foster care needs locally and throughout the state.
With our last report, it showed that we have 575 children in foster care custody,” DeCaire said. “We are needing more foster homes. So this is also an opportunity for us to bring our community together to raise awareness with May being Foster Care Month.”
The number 575 reflects Choctaw children within the state of Oklahoma. There are more than 300 located in the 10 ½ Oklahoma counties that make up the Choctaw Nation footprint.
“Also, we will be there for anyone who has any questions regarding foster care, maybe they are interested or know someone who might be interested,” DeCaire said. “This is an absolutely wonderful place to speak to the right people and get your questions answered about foster care.”
There will be photo opportunities and games and the Durant Fire Department will be there, as well. DeCaire encouraged the community to come out and enjoy the day.
“We are very excited and hope to keep this tradition going.”
