The 10th annual Adirondack Kids Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 in Inlet, NY. Central Adirondack Kiwanis will once again be the main sponsor for the event which is inspired by the best-selling children’s book series, The Adirondack Kids ® written by Gary and Justin VanRiper of Camden, NY, and celebrates families having fun together in the great outdoors.

Many free family-oriented activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A few of the festivities include the ever-popular French Louie Fishing Derby for children 12 years old and under, Mark Manske of Adirondack Raptors with his birds of prey, and the Children’s Authors & Illustrators Book Fair hosted by the Inlet Public Library. New attractions this year include a traveling beehive, some water safety information, and live music by Melissa Clark. Returning to the event will be experts in outdoor recreation, horseback rides, carnival games, geocaching, face painting, balloon twisting, magician Jim Okey, a craft and activity table, a bounce house and free popcorn courtesy of the Inlet Community Church, and an opportunity to work with artist Joyce Burgess Snavlin, author of Adirondack ABC’s.

This year’s Adirondack Kids Day event features a special appearance by Smokey the Bear. Photo provided by Inlet Tourism Director Adele Burnett.

Tamarack Café will have free pancakes (with required purchase) and Putterfingers Mini Golf will be open with a hole-in-one challenge. The Town of Webb Key Club will be selling hot dogs under the pavilion, while they last. The Inlet Mighty Loons will be raffling off some fun prizes and selling Gertrude Hawk chocolate bars and stickers. There will also be a special appearance by Smokey the Bear. Every child who stops at the Kiwanis Information Tent will receive a free Adirondack Kids Day cinch sack filled with lots of donated goodies, while supplies last.

Fishing Derby participants will also receive a “fishing” goody bag. Children will be fishing off a barge on Fifth Lake in one-hour slots from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and all the fish will be returned to the lake. The 80 fishing derby slots fill up quickly, so hopeful participants should arrive early.

Those interested in making a financial contribution toward their many Kiwanis Kids projects may do so by sending donations to Kiwanis Club Foundation of the Central Adirondacks, P.O. Box 1044, Old Forge, NY, 13420.

For the full schedule, a map of activities, and more information check out AdirondackKidsDay.com or contact the Inlet Information Office at (315) 357-5501. (Event features are subject to change.)

Photo at top: French Louie Fishing Derby participant shows off his catch during an Adirondack Kids Day event. Photo provided by Inlet Tourism Director Adele Burnett.