Family Fun Fair kicks off Child Abuse Awareness Month

It’s April Fool’s Day, but the cause that brought hundreds of families to Album Park on Saturday was no joke.

For the 10th straight year Child Protection Services put together Family Fun Fest.

Kids get to play games and win prizes, and the goal is it will help bring families together. April is Child Abuse Awareness Month.

“It’s not just an April thing. It’s a year round issue, concern that we all have,” Child protection services community outreach director Sonia Avila said. “We must all be involved in in preventing child abuse.”

The theme for the event was super heroes. Families were all encouraged to wear their favorite costumes.

“It’s good fun, free, family time. It’s great,” said Amber Falhaber, a parent who was dressed up as Batman.

Her son, Travis George, decided to skip the Batman costume. Instead, he dressed as Batman’s nemesis — the Joker. He said he enjoyed coming together with the community for a good cause.

“if you spend more time as a family, I believe child abuse could be stopped,” George said.

Some of the games were fun, while still being educational. One booth had a bean bag toss, that required kids to wear goggles. The goggles simulated the feeling of being inebriated.

“It creates awareness on drunk driving, and it creates awareness on the effects alcohol has on children and teenage drinking,” volunteer Gilbert Perez said.

Avila said that every year the fair gets bigger.

“This is another opportunity for them to dress up, to come and play games, to win prizes, and to be around the family,” Avila said.