HOUGHTON - From story time to cookie decorating, face painters and free balloons, the Kiwanis Family Fun Fair featured something for everyone Saturday at the Copper Country Mall.
Kathy Beattie, of the Kiwanis Club of the Copper Country, said cookie decorating was a popular event even early in the morning, welcoming kids to decorate cookies with sprinkles, M&M's, chocolate chips and frosting, among other toppings.
"The cookies are always popular, along with the face-painting and candy bracelets," she said.
Mark Madsen helped Tegan Madsen, 6, and Kaden Madsen, 3, decorate cookies at the table around 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
"What do you want to put on it next?" Mark asked as the boys carefully loaded cookies with green sugar and M&M's.
Beattie said the cookie table opened about 10:30 a.m. and as of 11:30 a.m., they were already working through the stack of 360 cookies.
Students from the Houghton High School Key Club were helping at the cookie table and students from Michigan Technological University's Circle K painted faces nearby.
"If you want to be a Kiwanian, you can start with the Builder's Club, and the Key Club in high school and Circle K in college," she said. "It's one big 'K' family. They help us out and we help them. It's really great for the kids."
Near the cookie table and face painting, children also shot hoops to win gift certificates from local eateries.
"Just try and make a basket," she said. "We don't care if you make it or not."
Mike Tesch, from Pets and More Critter Store in Painesdale, brought several animals for eventgoers to interact with, as did the Copper Country Humane Society.
As the Kivijat Dancers performed in the center of the mall, children nearby stopped to pet the animals, which included bunnies, dogs and a ferret.
"We wanted to get involved and get some exposure," he said. "We just opened our shop in December."
Various booths with informational material lined the halls of the mall. The Upper Peninsula Power Co. put on a presentation with a miniature town and demonstrated how electricity works. Other booths included BHK Child Development, Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter, Dial Help, the Copper Country Humane Society, the American Red Cross, Celtic Quarter, Child and Family Services, Children's Trust Fund, Copper Country Early On, Dial Help, Good Will Farm/Family Support, and Keweenaw Family Resource Center, among others.
