FamilyFest

Yesterday was the 3rd annual Riverfront FamilyFest but it was our first time going.  The event was held in the Chase Center and was advertised as a fun and free event for the entire family. There was a "Back to School" expo with various vendors/exhibits/businesses handing out tons of free things.  Zach was good at spotting the tables that had candy on them and we told him he was practicing for when he went trick-or-treating!  The other freebies we got were of course tons of pencils, pens and post-it notes but we also got frisbees, bubbles, crayons, toothbrushes, matchbox trucks, a stuffed Elmo and tons of bags and even backpacks.  In addition to all that they had what Zach enjoyed the most which were the inflatables and moon bounces.  This one was a soccer kick one. (I made him carry his backpack he was given.)

There was also a basketball and football one too.  In the back there were two huge obstacle courses set up.  This was the mega obstacle course which he did in record time.  Surprisingly there was hardly any wait.

This was a different obstacle course that ended up having a little bit of a wait because one of the kids before him couldn't get himself over one of the walls.  He was an older boy, about 10 years old, and it took another parent to jump in and help him over.  I was worried whether Zach could do it but he had no problems with it at all.  Here he is at the start waiting for the go ahead.

Zach could have probably stayed there for another hour playing on the different inflatables but after hitting them all (some even twice) Kristin and Megan were getting bored.  We made our way back through the exhibit area and stopped at some of the tables either again or hit the ones we missed the first time.  The one table was giving out big boxes of candy if you answered a movie question correct.  Zach's question was, "What was the main character in the movie Cars?"  That was the perfect question for Zach, "Lightning McQueen!"  He chose a box of Swedish Fish.  Megan's question was, "What was the name of Prim's cat in The Hunger Games?"  She couldn't answer it and I couldn't help her because I couldn't remember it. (She's seen the movie but I've read the book AND seen the movie.)  He was nice and changed the question and Megan was able to answer that one so she picked out a box of M&M's.  By the way, the answer to the cat question is Buttercup.

We left there carrying our many bags of goodies to put in the car and then headed over to Molly's for some ice cream.  Zach is showing his black raspberry cone.

Then we took a short walk on the riverfront.  The three of them posing by one of the many signs.

We stopped to check out the water but Zach didn't want to get close because he was freaked out that the water was actually under us. He loved the big cranes that were there though. You can see part of one behind Zach.

I have no idea why this caboose just sits in the grass but it was good for me because it provided yet another photo op.

We were winding up our walk but what's a walk without a picture on a bench.

I had to have my bench picture too so here's Kristin and I looking lovely while Zach is making "the face!" 

That ended our nice time at the riverfront and we got in the car and headed home.  We had a backwards lunch day because I stopped to get them happy meals after they've already had ice cream.  So other than the ice cream and happy meals (about $18) the entertainment was free and we will definitely go back to this again next year.  Maybe next year we'll include a stop at Timothy's or one of the other restaurants around there.  By next year the new movie theater should be open and we could really make a day of it.  I'm already looking forward to it!