GALLIPOLIS — Saturday, July 4, will be Kids Day at the 44th annual Gallipolis River Recreation Festival, starting at 9 a.m.

Chair of this special day is Gwen Doss, who has been busily at work planning activities and collecting great prizes to be given away throughout the day.

The Kids Casting Tournament, sponsored by the Bass Busters, will take place from 9 a.m. until noon. At 10 a.m., the Gallia County Senior Resource Center is sponsoring wheel chair races.

The Hula Hoop and Bubble Gum Blowing contests will begin at 11 a.m. and are sponsored by the Ariel Theatre. And, as a special educational feature, there will be an in-home fire safety program by the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Department.

Starting at noon will be the egg race, hay rolling and sack race, sponsored by the O. O. McIntyre Park District. All the kids become excited with the terrapin races, Frog jumping and more sack races start at 1:30 p.m. and are sponsored by the Gallipolis Lions Club.

The Oreo Stacking Contest, sponsored by Eastman’s Foodland, will begin at 3 p.m. And from 3 until 6 p.m., Xtreme Cheernastics and Southern Ohio Gymnastics Academy will perform.

The final activity in the afternoon will be the balloon toss at 4 p.m., sponsored by the Gallipolis Kiwanis Club.

As Amy Miller, River Recreation Festival chair points out, “No child will go home empty handed,” to which Gwen Doss, Kids Day chair, added, “Not on my watch!”

Every child will receive a pinwheel, a balloon and sand art to take home. In addition, Doss said, “Every 30 minutes we will give away a prize. Included are bicycles, a wagon, an inflatable swimming pool, scooters, gift certificates and much, much more.”

Both Miller and Doss emphasized the importance of the generosity of businesses and merchants in Gallia County who donate valuable prizes for the kids, and they expressed their deep appreciation for the great support they receive each year for Kids Day.

Another special feature of Kids Day will be the gigantic banner all the children will have the opportunity to sign, on behalf of Gallia County. It will then be sent to our soldiers in Iraq.

Key sponsors for Kids Day are the Gallia County Contractors’ Association, John and Amy Saunders, and Little Caesars, along with many others who provide backing for this special day.

“We could never have such a exciting day for the kids, without this great support from the community,” Doss said.