There was this moment during PaxFest last year. It was at the end of the evening. We were all holding our “candles” for the candlelight vigil. Paxton’s little cousin Finn was bringing joy to every crying grown up who could see him.
All of the sudden a child ran up by the stage and put his “candle” down. And then another. And another. And two slightly bigger (maybe 12-years-old) children started arranging those candles. And before the grown ups even knew what was going on, those children – spontaneously – had assembled a golden glowing heart with Paxton’s nickname “Pax” in the center.
And if you were there, you have tears in your eyes right now just reading this and remembering how that felt. It was one of THOSE moments. One of those raw, organic, bigger then you moments that are simply amazing.
And THAT is what Paxfest is for me. It is a way to honor those children battling cancer by celebrating those children who are healthy.
With the help of KC Inflatables, we will be celebrating it up this year! The AER EEG Kid Zone will have a GIANT eight-foot slide, a Sponge Bob bounce house, carnivals games, cotton candy and sno-cones. Thanks to an AMAZING team of volunteer vendors we will also have funnel cakes, face painting, balloon twisting (and these balloons are not your average poodles and swords…this is balloon ART) and a few other surprises.
Since PaxFest is free for children under the age of 10, the Kid Zone will be open to the general public. However, parents, flash your PaxFest hand stamp in the Kid Zone for serious discounts.
I hope to see everyone there. Last one down the slide is a rotten egg.
-Dawn
