Fairfield to host Kiwanis Kids’ Day Saturday

FAIRFIELD — The biggest event in downtown Fairfield returns this Saturday when the Fairfield Kiwanis Club hosts another iteration of Kiwanis Kids’ Day.

The fun begins early with the pancake breakfast, served from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the tent on the east side of the square. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door (kids half price).

The premiere event is the parade at 10 a.m., starting at Fairfield High School. The theme of this year’s parade is “This Is What I Want to Be.” Floats that wish to participate in the parade should be lined up at the high school by 9:30 a.m.

Following the parade, kids’ games and activities will fill Central Park, including pony rides, a clown, face-painting, a bouncy house, and the pedal pull. DJ Midnight Crystal will treat residents to toe-tapping music. The next day, Collector Cars Unlimited will host its annual car show in downtown Fairfield. Gates open for registration at 8 a.m., with a noon deadline. Trophies will be passed out between 3-3:30 p.m.

Fairfield Kiwanis member Daryn Hamilton said the club has not raised its prices for the pancake breakfast for the past seven years, despite high inflation.

“When we went through COVID and couldn’t have a Kids’ Day that year, we decided the following year to leave the prices the same to get people to come back,” Hamilton said. “We wanted families with children, who can’t afford a whole lot, to still be able to eat pancakes and sausage.”

Parade floats will be judged by a team of volunteers who will award prizes.

“We usually look to see if the float follows the theme of the parade first, and then see if they get kids involved in their float, and judge based on that,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton is also a member of the Collector Cars Unlimited club that’s hosting the car show on Sunday, and he’s just one of four remaining members, the others being his wife, plus David and Robert Keller. He said that participation in the club has dipped so low that this might be its last car show.

“We don’t have enough help to do what we did in the past,” Hamilton lamented.

Those who are interested in learning more about Kids’ Day or the car show can contact Hamilton at 641-919-1861.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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