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LEWISTOWN -- The cheerful sun on the Mifflin County Kid Connection logo beams in the sky, smiling brightly above colorful rainbows and puffy clouds.
It certainly emits the fun, festive vibe that Kid Connection brings to downtown Lewistown each year. That sun isn't feeling so hot today.
"It's with deep sadness that I announce the cancellation of Kid Connection 2023," Casey Goss, chair of Mifflin County Kid Connection posted on the event's Facebook page
early Thursday morning.
"Per a direct contact with the NWS (National Weather Service) of State College and their 80 percent prediction of positive rain on Saturday, many entertainers, participants and vendors are not comfortable with setting up this year," she added. "Efforts for an event to happen in May are being made, but at this time there is no rescheduling."
Not having a rain date for Kid Connection meant there was little to no wiggle room for Goss. After the announcement Thursday, the word "CANCELED" in big red letters appeared on the Kid Connection Facebook page, covering the event's logo. Apparently, Thursday was decision day for this year's event.
Kid Connection is a free event that has been a tradition for many decades. The event was to occur from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It's designed to give free activities, games and entertainment to children ages two to 12.
While applications and inquiries for entertainment have been challenging this year, Goss explained, the event was a go. This marked the third year that Goss had returned to organizing the event. Scheduling conflicts and a lack of planning volunteers provided the biggest hurdles until now.
Goss worked to obtain newer vendors, such as many local businesses, which had not participated previously.
"I have seen some challenges with persons no longer desiring to be part of the planning and organization aspect of the event and some organizations dropping larger activities due to financial or liability risks," Goss said previously in a press release in March. "I consider this the second growing year again, learning and navigating post-pandemic issues."
The Twin Kiss ice cream stand, emergency service professionals, create your own slap bracelets, Logan Guard demonstrations, Penn State Ag walk, Chalk the Walk for Mental Health Matters and cookie decorating were to be among this year's highlights.