Children from all over Homestead gathered at Harris Field Pavilion on Saturday, September 22 to celebrate Homestead’s history at the Homestead Centennial Children’s Day. The successful event attracted hundreds of children and their families, who enjoyed free food, bounce houses, video games, and a live show by Radio Disney with interactive games and contests. An exhibit of over a hundred entries in art, photography and essay categories from the Centennial Student Contest were on display and the winners of each category were announced and received prizes.
“The festival was a resounding success,” said Councilwoman Patricia Fairclough-McCormick who organized the event along the Centennial Steering Committee “The children were able to enjoy themselves and at the same time learn about the City’s history and community.”
Various community groups and nonprofit organizations were part of the event and offered families information, giveaways and services. The Justice in Motion Mobile Unit, a program by the Dade-County State Attorney Office, conducted free child fingerprinting for safekeeping to be used in the event that identification is required. The Healthy Matthew Dental Bus gave away toothbrushes and other dental hygiene products. Also in attendance were the City of Homestead Police Department with a demonstration of its K9 unit, and the Kiwanis Club of Homestead, which gave away two books to every child at the event, over a 1,000 books were distributed. The exciting program closed with the Growing up Green Eco Musical and interactive storytelling show by Dean of Green from Redland Tropical Gardens,
Judges had the difficult task of selecting winners from over one hundred extraordinary entries for the student photography, art and essay Homestead History Contests. Centennial Steering Committee members Maycol Enriquez and Kevin Myles headed up the judges for the Student Contest. In the photography category first place was awarded to Seam Grey of MAST Academy, second place to Lorelei Hernandez of Keys Gate Charter High School, and third place to Liam Leider of Atala Montessori. In the writing category first place was given to Katie Bowerman, second place to Cheyenne Martinez of Summerset Academy, and there was tie in the third place for Irma Valladares of Campbell Drive Middle and Joshua Gutierrez of Campbell Drive Elementary K-8. In the art category the winner was Joslyn Brand of South Dade Senior High, second place were Omar Colon & Auntron Cooper also of South Dade Senior High, and Nicholas Jimenez of Keys Gate Charter High School, third place was given to Chanatan Maungoijarern.
All winners received cash prizes and they will be honored at the October 17 City Council meeting. The students’ works will be displayed at the Homestead Old Town Hall Museum on 41 N. Krome Avenue.
