Bishop to host Kids Day: Family Fun Day returns with rebrand to celebrate diversity

Día del Niño, or Kid's Day, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Bishop City Park as a bilingual outreach event featuring informational booths, games and activities, demonstrations, free giveaways, music and food.

“I’m excited to see Family Fun Day revived after it was interrupted by COVID, and to coordinate it alongside with Día del Niño or Kid’s Day," Bishop Community Services Clerk, Karey Poole said. "Many countries around the world have a designated 'Children’s Day,' and in Mexico, that day is April 30, which is close enough to Family Fun Day to combine the two."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20% of Inyo County's residents are younger than 18 and 28% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.

In Bishop, 12% of residents are younger than 18, and 30% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.

In addition, 17% of Mono County residents are younger than 18 and 27% are Hispanic or Latino, while some 21% of Mammoth Lakes' residents are younger than 18 and 28% are Hispanic or Latino.

Youngsters are encouraged to bring their bikes and helmets to Kid's Day for the California Highway Patrol’s popular Bicycle Rodeo, where they will receive tips on safe riding.

Attendees can also receive assistance registering for swimming lessons and city summer camps, as well as wildfire preparedness incentives such as green waste coupons and helpful resources. There will also be health, wildlife and fire safety information available.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate children by bringing together organizations and agencies providing valuable services and/or resources to children and their families, regardless of their race or ethnicity,” Bishop City Councilman Jose Garcia said. “Since kid’s day is celebrated around the world, it just makes perfect sense to bring back and rebrand the former Family Fun Day.”

Northern Inyo Healthcare District will offer hantavirus prevention literature in English and Spanish in the wake of three deaths related to the disease in Mono County, and Sierra Forever will present a bear awareness and safety discussion.

Wildbark Institute will also present a wildfire safety and home hardening discussion as part of its Wildfire Resilience Month outreach efforts throughout May.

“Local Hispanic families need life-saving information delivered to them in a way they can understand,” Sierra Forever spokesman Louis Medina said. “Providing this information during a fun, engaging event like Día del Niño will hopefully help them remember what they learned, take home brochures and other important safety reminders, and become more health-and-safety-conscious, no matter their age.”

For more information, email Louis@sierraforever.org or kpoole@cityofbishop.ca.gov.