The Bellefontaine Police Department’s Community Safety Event marks its 10th year Saturday, Aug. 20, with the free family activities offered at Southview Park.
More than 20 emergency and safety agencies will be attending from around Ohio between 3 and 6 p.m. Among the participants are the Columbus Division of Police’s Mounted Unit and helicopters from four different agencies.
At 3:30 p.m., area children also can participate in a planned candy drop from a helicopter, weather permitting.
Children are asked to watch from a safety zone as a helicopter from Bellefontaine Regional Airport flies over the designated areas to drop the candy. After the helicopter safely leaves the area, children will be released in appropriate age groups to get the candy.
Also throughout the afternoon, canine demonstrations will take place along with games, bounce houses, a dunk tank, a petting zoo from Camp Willson, paddy wagon rides, music and more. All activities are free.
Chicken dinners for the K9 program will be available on a first come-first served basis, while supplies last. Those who pre-purchased their dinner tickets must have them picked up by 5 p.m.
The local Modern Woodmen Chapter also will be donating matching funds to the barbecue chicken dinner tickets sold.
Pre-sale tickets at $12 each are available for purchase at the police department, 135 N. Detroit St. The Modern Woodmen will make a $12 donation for each ticket sold for the fundraiser, so that each ticket generates $24 for the K9 unit, representatives from the chapter report.