East Rockaway, NY October 24, 2015– Rolling River Day Camp in East Rockaway, New York, hosted its annual Fall Festival and Fundraiser on Saturday, October 24th. Once again presented by festival partner “Local Luxuries”, over 1,200 local residents came out to enjoy the crisp fall weather and participate in the variety of family-friendly activities, as well as raise funds for Rolling River’s Campmates Scholarship Program.
Several of these activities included rides, slides, airbrush, pumpkin picking, farm animals, face painting, a BBQ cookout, a crafts and vendor fair and of course, Halloween goody bag decorating, where kids were able to fill their creative bags with tons of yummy treats. The festival also included an interactive performance space that highlighted the talents of local dancers, a baton twirling show squad, and martial arts students.
The event’s main attraction however was the “Ride Zone” where kids of all ages enjoyed bouncing and riding down giant inflatable slides and obstacles courses. “The Twisted Twister ride was so fast and awesome, I loved it!” stated 9 year old Michael DeJoseph of Lynbrook.
To reinforce the sense of family and community, Rolling River encouraged many of their camp parents who own local businesses to serve as new vendors. Some of the participating businesses included Promo Master Inc., Rockers & Divas and Quivana health supplement.
The festival received immense support from the local community, as many participating businesses donated their time and services. Local business Pro Soccer Kids ran complimentary soccer demonstrations while KB Karaoke provided children the opportunity to perform their favorite hit songs.
All proceeds from the event’s ticket booth, refreshment stand and vendor fees were donated to Rolling River’s Campmates Scholarship Program. The scholarship initiative provides tuition-free camp experiences at Rolling River for local children nominated by New Horizon Counseling Center. Since 2010, the program has raised thousands of dollars and sponsored camp tuitions for over 40 children. According to New Horizon CEO Herrick Lipton, the Campmates Program is a “priceless opportunity that is deeply appreciated by the children and their families.” Lipton adds, “Rolling River offers a nurturing environment that encourages healthy socialization and growth that tremendously impacts the counseling efforts.”