TRAVERSE CITY -- Max Dingeman used to come to Fun and Games for Special Kids day as a participant.
Now, Dingeman, who has Down syndrome, volunteers his time by working at the annual National Cherry Festival event.
"It's really fun to interact with the kids," Dingeman, 17, said. "You can see any type of people. You can try any type of activity. You can watch the kids and show them how to do things."
Hundreds of special-needs kids and their parents came out to the Wednesday gathering at the Open Space and dove into events ranging from a Frisbee Fling, bean bag toss, frog pond, cherry pit spit, free carnival rides and a wheelchair swing.
But the experience Jason Adams, of Kalkaska, liked the most was riding an elephant. Why?
"Because I like him," Adams, 31, said.
For Paul Ottaanr, 19, it was the carnival that drew him to Special Kids Day.
"I want to have fun at the carnival today," he said. "I want to go on the carnival rides and the bumper cars."
Cindy Hitesman serves as Fun and Games for Special Kids director. She's organized the outing every year since its inception in 1984.
"To see the smiles on their faces just makes your day worth it," she said.
Many of the kids return each year, adding to the good feelings.
"It's a kind of reunion for the kids," she said. "They come out to see their friends and have fun every year."
Roberta LaMont, a special education teacher at Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District, has attended Special Kids Day with her students since their initial trip in 1998.
"Sometimes on a day-to-day basis, you don't see much of a reaction from them," she said. "But when they come here, you can see they're excited. You can see that spark behind their eyes."
Retired special education teacher Tim Coffey agreed.
"They don't have fun everywhere, which is really unfortunate," he said. "But they do here."
Jenn Miles, of Traverse City, brought her three younger siblings and her godson -- all of whom have special needs -- to the event.
She called it "the best event at the festival."
"It allows the kids to be themselves," Miles said. "There aren't many places that allow them to completely be themselves."
She also praised volunteers, Cherry Festival staff and carnival workers as keys to a successful day.
"They're some of the nicest people I've ever met," she said.
National Cherry Festival
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