The Maranda Park Party season started off with lots of energy and excitement at Lamar Park in Wyoming on Thursday June 21, 2018 (the first day of summer).
Nearly 8,500 people came out to enjoy all of the great fun and food for free. Whether it was flying down the zip line, grabbing a fruit snack from the Meijer Food Truck, learning about fire safety inside the E.S.C.A.P.E. Mobile Training Center or checking out the Rapid Bus, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
This party set the tone for all of the fun-filled parties to come for the rest of the summer.
We’re continuing our celebration of Jake the Fire Safety Dog’s10th Birthday! Families sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jake and Maranda and theWOTV 4 Womenteam gave Jake a “Maranda Park Party” vest bandana!
Maranda brings a Park Party to Kalamazoo on July 7 from Noon to 2pm. Join E.S.C.A.P.E. and Jake the Fire Safety Dog to learn about fire safety. Everyone is invited and everything is free!
Marandas Park Parties traveled to five communities across West Michigan in 2015, including the July 30 event at Northwestern Middle School in Battle Creek. An estimated 6,100 kids and families turned out at the final Park Party of the summer, bringing this year’s total to an estimated 29,000 participants!
“It has been an amazing summer visiting so many wonderful communities across West Michigan and impacting the lives of so many families across our area. We couldn’t do it without the amazing support of our great sponsors from WOOD TV8 and WOTV 4 and from the communities we visited. A huge thanks to everyone who joined for Park Party season 2015,” Maranda said.
E.S.C.A.P.E. would like to thank our fabulous partners for their continued support of fire and life safety education and commitment to help us keep West Michigan families safe!
The Battle Creek Park Party is unique because Maranda partners with Battle Creek Public Schools to bring the community together. Each school in the district was represented in one super-sized area with games, giveaways, and to register children for kindergarten. The district also provided busing from area elementary schools and apartment complexes.
The final Maranda Park Party of the summer is coming to Northwestern Middle School in Battle Creek on July 30.
Maranda partners with Battle Creek Public Schools to bring the community together. Each school in the district is represented in one super-sized area with games, giveaways, and to register children for kindergarten. They also provide busing from area elementary schools and apartment complexes. See the schedule here.
The Battle Creek Police Department brings out a huge display to delight children at the Park Party! Visitors can see the bomb squad with a robot, the Emergency Response Team, and a K9. The Police Department loves the opportunity to get together with people in the community and have fun together.
The Battle Creek Park Party is extra special for E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety, as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. The organization started in Battle Creek, taking fire safety education into communities using a fire safety demonstration trailer. Last year, E.S.C.A.P.E. had the one millionth child go through the smoke demonstration trailer at the Park Party in Battle Creek. This year, they’re helping super-size the event with prizes and a Rescue Squad bounce house.
The Pearson Family will be at the Park Party once again, bringing their incredible sound to the Craig’s Cruisers Entertainment Stage. The family performs beautiful harmonies for the National Anthem and other songs.
The Maranda Park Party on July 30 is from noon until 2 p.m. Free lunch is served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last.
Approximately 3,800 kids and families flocked to Berlin Raceway on Thursday, July 9, for Maranda’s second Park Party of the summer. The blue skies and sunshine appeared just as Maranda kicked things off on stage and families enjoyed a picture-perfect day in Marne.
“It turned out to be a beautiful day at our second Park Party of the summer,” said Maranda. “Berlin Raceway opened the gates and kids came and played in the pits and enjoyed an amazing time. From monster trucks to race cars and farm animals, this party was extra special.”
This was the second time in the past ten years that Maranda has hosted this large-scale event at Berlin Raceway and today’s event was bigger and better than ever. Exciting attractions included a mini Ferris wheel, zip line, climbing wall, and super slide. Party-goers also got the chance to explore Berlin’s track up close, check out the pits, infield, Monster Trucks and more!
Once again working with USDA, Michigan Department of Education, and Kenowa Hills Public Schools, thousands of free lunches were served to anyone 18 and under. Many kids also walked away with prizes from Priority Health, Cedar Point, Michigan’s Adventure, John Ball Zoo, Holland Community Aquatic Center, and more!
The Park Party team will be traveling to the remaining three communities, bringing a supersized celebration to all.
Stop by the E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety trailer and meet Jake The Fire Safety Dog. Families will continue to learn about fire safety and the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Operation Save A Life, the West Michigan partnership between WOTV4Women, Kidde, local fire departments and E.S.C.A.P.E.
July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek
One of the biggest free parties in West Michigan returns for another summer on Thursday, June 25! Maranda is kicking off her 21st season of Maranda Park Parties at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Each Maranda Park Party is held from noon until 2 p.m. Everyone is invited and everything is free!
“We love Park Parties” sign at Wyoming Park Party, Lamar Park – June 26, 2014
The Wyoming Park Party is bigger and better than ever with two brand new activities: a giant obstacle course and a Ferris wheel! Lamar Park will be filled with more than 50 different vendors providing a variety of free services, information, and activities.
Kids can rock out with a house band or get a free haircut for summer provided by Grand Rapids First Church! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety is celebrating 20 years of keeping kids safe with a new bounce house where families can come meet Jake the Fire Safety Dog. Also in Wyoming, the first 80 families who donate a bag of new or gently used items to the Bethany’s Thrift Store will receive an Entertainment Book.
Once again in working with USDA, Michigan Department of Education and local school districts, free lunch will be served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last. Every Park Party also includes free activities, games, entertainment and, of course, prizes!
This year Maranda and the Park Party team will be traveling to five communities bringing a supersized celebration to all.
June 25 – Lamar Park, Wyoming
July 9 – Berlin Raceway, Marne
July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek
This summer promises to be full of free family fun with a new schedule of Maranda Park Parties. Families are invited from across West Michigan! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety and Jake the Fire Safety Dog will be teaching fire safety at all of the Park Parties again this summer.
Maranda and the Park Party team are headed to five communities this year:.
June 25 – Lamar Park, Wyoming
July 9 – Berlin Raceway, Marne
July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek
Each Park Party is held from noon until 2 p.m. Free lunch is served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last. Every Park Party includes free activities, games, entertainment, and prizes! Everyone is invited and everything is free!
Follow updates about the Park Parties this year on social media using #MarandaParkParty!
Watch the announcement with Maranda, Jake The Fire Safety Dog and Firefighter Michael McLeieer live inside the E.S.C.A.P.E. smoke demonstration trailer at the Park Party yesterday in Battle Creek!
Trenten Dollaway of Battle Creek is the One Millionth person to go through the E.S.C.A.P.E. smoke demonstration trailer. He and his family won the grand prize to the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, free tickets to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, free passes to Craig’s Cruisers fun center in Wyoming, Michigan, free haircuts courtesy of Coachlite Cutters Barber Shop in Portage, a free Meijer gas card thanks to our friends at Liberty Mutual Insurance, and gift card from EPS Security. Free E.S.C.A.P.E. T-shirts and baseball caps were also very popular for Trenten and his family!
The E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety Program recognized its one millionth child to learn about fire safety inside the Mobile Training Center in Battle Creek on July 31st.
