Ready, Set, Get Dirty!: Annual Dirt Day Draws Hundreds
 Photos by Melanie Rancourt
Elijah Goodermote, 4, gets dirty at Kemp Park on Thursday night. Hundreds of kids turned out for the annual Dirt Day. More photos here. |
Messy children were the stars of the evening as parents and grandparents snapped pictures and took videos of them rolling down dirt piles, playing with trucks, and jumping around with excitement. Many families even took advantage of the nice weather and had a picnic with their kids as they took a break from the messy fun.
This free community event is sponsored by Child Care of the Berkshires in conjunction with the Parent Child Home Program and the Family Net Program. Amy Hall, program director of Family Net said that year after year, the event always seems to be a success rain or shine.
"We have a beautiful night tonight to have fun," Hall said on Thursday. "This is a simple event that kids and parents love to participate in. Playing in the dirt gives children a different tactile experience. Children also know that for one night, parents give them permission get dirty which always adds to the fun."
T-shirts, pails and shovels were distributed to children ages 6 years old and younger. However, many children came equipped with their own toys and dove right into the huge piles of pond sand that was donated by Bushika Sand and Gravel and brought to the park by N. Della Trucking.
"This would be a very expensive event if not for the generosity of our sponsors," Hall said. "Unfortunately, beginning July 1, funding for many Child Care of the Berkshires events will see significant budget cuts. Hopefully, we will be able to have Dirt Day again next year."Among those children having fun was 4-year-old Elijah Goodermote, who came to the event with his mom, Marie.
"We have come to the event for the past three years rain or shine," she said. "It is a fun-filled family evening.
"We were worried about possible thunderstorms tonight but it turned out to be a great night. Last year, when it did rain, we came anyway, and children had just as much fun playing in the mud."
Three-year-old Troy Chilson and his sister Hayley, 14, came to the event for the first time with their grandmother Deb Castellucci.
"I think this is an awesome event," Castellucci said. "The kids are having a ball! Troy usually plays in the sand out in front of my house when he comes to visit. When I heard about this event I knew that he was going to love it."
Many older siblings had just as much fun playing in the dirt with their brothers and sisters. Other activities that were offered to children included bubble blowing and basketball for those that wanted to take a moment's break from playing in the dirt.
Hall said Child Care of the Berkshires wanted to thank the city of North Adams for once again allowing the agency to use Kemp Park as the location of Dirt Day.
