April 2002 - Nr. 4
"Easterfest" at Downey’s
The kids had a great time! They could search and collect Easter eggs – plastic eggs were distributed in a special area of the grounds, kids could collect as many as they could find, take them to a trading post and exchange their bounty for a small basket filled with chocolate eggs. They just loved it.
Then
there was a show several times during the day at the new barn where Steve
Baker performed incredible magic for young and old.
But
young and old also had a chance to watch a very professional puppet show
with "Ernie" (Muppets) as the MC and other Muppets dancing to Rock-music and
other delightful performances. The parents were just as intrigued as the
children and didn’t mind sitting on bales of straw during the performance.
Of
course there were also a number of animals to pet and the market was open
for business. Fresh baked goods were available and flowers and pussy willows
for Easter décor.
The
staff was dressed in bunny suits and face make-up for the occasion and a
full sized white rabbit turned out to be the children’s favourite and a
great photo opportunity for the parents with their children and the rabbit.
That is when memories are made that last a lifetime.
The
Saturday of the first weekend was very windy and business less then brisk,
John told me. However on the Sunday when I went out to check and see how
this experiment was coming along it was sunny, hardly any wind and I was
surprised at the number of visitors that took advantage of this rare
opportunity to do something with their children that no one else provided.
I also met one of our readers that day, which recognized me and said that he brought three generations of his family along because he saw the announcement in our February issue of the paper. (...It’s good to see that advertising works!)
Great idea, John and Ruth. Let’s hope it is successful enough to try it again next year!
As always,
Dick Altermann
