Child ID fair this weekend

Colflesh Financial Services and the fire division of Maryville Public Safety will host a Child ID Fair this Saturday at the fire station, located at 222 E. Third St.

The free event lasts from 9 a.m. until noon and will feature a number of activities and exhibits.

Colflesh marketing manager Jaime Collins said the purpose of the event is to promote safety-conscious choices by young people and their families.

"We wanted to bring safety-related events to the community," Collins said. "Since October is fire safety month, we called the fire department, and they were willing to help out."

All children attending will receive a free identification card that includes the child's photo, digital fingerprints and other information.

Give-aways and prizes will include T-shirts, coupons and 9-volt smoke detector batteries provided courtesy of Energizer. There will also be a bounce house and raffle drawings.

Daren the D.A.R.E. Lion and Spoofy, the Maryville High School mascot, will be on hand to pose with children for photographs. Youngsters will also be able to clamber aboard an assortment of emergency response vehicles, including police cruisers, firetrucks and a Humvee.

A demonstration will take place on fire extinguisher use, and the Mic-O-Say dancers of the Boy Scouts of America will perform hourly beginning at 9:30 p.m. Mic-O-Say-style face-painting and temporary tattoos will be available for children throughout the event.

"We think the community could use more kids' events," Collins said. "This is a good way for kids and families to have fun and have a good day together.

"We really want to thank the community members that helped with donations and the fire department for letting us have this event at the firehouse."