April showers did not dampen Panther spirit and hundreds came out for the Rye Neck Spring Fair April 22 at the High/Middle School campus. In honor of Earth Day, visitors wore their Pachamama (Mother Earth) T-shirts and Rye Nature Center staff shared composting techniques at an environmental table.
The fair, co-chaired by Arlena Amos and Jeannie Baio, celebrated Rye Neck pride with new attractions, such as a coconut-climbing tree and a four-person Euro bungee, along with thrilling rides, obstacle courses, bounce inflatables, and farm animals at a petting zoo.
Indoors, balloon twisting, tattoos, hair and face painting, and a cake walk awaited. Origami masters taught the kids to make spirit animal masks and Total Fusion had visitors learning yoga in the gym. Rye Neck’s a cappella group and the chorus from their spunky “Legally Blonde” musical provided entertainment.
At the end of the day, raffle prizes — gift cards, an Apple TV, and a fitness class party — were distributed to some lucky winners. The fair brightened up an otherwise gray day for the whole community.
— Janice Llanes Fabry