Leaders and volunteers from Fall River's Neighborhood Associations put together a free "Christmas at Kennedy Park" event for children and their families on December 11, 2011. The event featured igloo building, holiday arts and crafts, caroling, face painting, wagon rides, hot chocolate, and other treats. Sponsors included Mayor Flanagan; City Councilors Eric Poulin and Mike Miozza, the Tyrrell, Ferrer and Palmer families, Paul DaSilva and Senator Michael Rodrigues. Contributions of supplies and volunteers were donated by Wings TV, The Home Depot, the 99 Restaurant, St. Anne’s Hospital, Pony Up Pony Parties, Domino’s, Carole Siembab, Eastern Ice, and the G-20 Youth Chorus. All of the proceeds raised from the event will go toward a new inclusive playground at Kennedy Park. Click here for photos of last year's First Day Family Festival. For more information about the Neighborhood Associations, contact Neighborhood Coordinator Perry Long at 508-676-0324.
 

(Top row, left and center) Four-year-old Elijah Bibbins waves from the center of an igloo he is making with the pile of snow that was delivered to Kennedy Park for the children to play with. (Top row, right) Suzette Tavares takes a picture of her eight-year-old daughter, Arianna, as she sits in the Santa sled. (Middle row, left)  Volunteer Carol Siembab holds a mirror as six-year-old Jomari Sanchez and her mother, Marisol Sanchez, looks at her face painting. (Middle row, center) Sean Carvalho, Andrew Mendonca and Kyle Fernandes sit in one of the pavilion arches decorated with a wreath. (Middle row, right) Ryan Kennedy, Jessica Thibeault, Erin Snizer, Michael Chhin and Sierra Lavoie sing favorite Christmas carols for the crowd. (Bottom row, left) Damiana Berto of the Flint Neighborhood Association passes out materials to parents and children making craft items. (Bottom row, center) Bank Street Neighborhood Association president Natalie Mello, Saint Anne's Neighborhood Association president Pam Laliberte-Lebeau, and Father Kelly Neighborhood Association president Rosemary Lapointe pose for a photo in front of the Christmas trees. Walter Moniz, Pam Laliberte-Lebeau, State Senator Michael Roderigues, and State Representative Kevin Aguiar pose for a photo with Senator Roderigues' dog, Sadie.