Traverse City Record-Eagle

2011 Cherry Festival

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  • Special Olympics Michigan athlete Katie Sonnemann enjoys a ride during Special Kids Day at the National Cherry Festival. Special to the Record-Eagle/Kimberly Purdy

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July 7, 2011

Parents: Special Kids Day is a 'gift'

Special-needs children enjoy a day at the Cherry Festival

BY JAMES RUSSELL jrussell@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Lynda Freet knows her limits.

Her son, D.J., 14, is autistic and the crowds at the Cherry Festival can be too much for them to handle.

"If we came down on Saturday, there's no way," Freet said. "People wouldn't understand, they'd make snide remarks. And he knows, he understands."

Mother and son instead took advantage of the festival's Special Kids Day on Wednesday for a chance to take in the sights and rides.

"It's such a gift and a blessing," she said.

Hundreds of special-needs children and their families came to the Open Space for fun and games, including camel rides, a petting zoo, fire truck rides and a swing designed for wheelchairs. Arnold Amusements also opened the midway for free rides.

"We don't get to do things like this otherwise," said Kathy Preston, who watched the camel rides with her grandchildren Adam and Paige. "Just look at the smiles on the faces. It's just wonderful."

Cindy Hitesman has organized the event since its inception in the early 1980s.

"If you just walk around and watch the kids' faces, they're so excited," she said.

It's a comfortable atmosphere that is often hard to find for these families.

"Everyone is used to all the kids that are here," she said. "Nothing's a big deal. There's just love everywhere. I've gotten so many hugs from everyone."

Kathy Maciejewski appreciated giving her sons Gabe and Sam a chance to try out rides for free.

"You never know if a special-needs kid will go on a ride," she said as they waited for a turn on the spinning bears. "My kids are having a blast."

It was the Maciejewskis first time at Special Kids Day, and Kathy said it was "fantastic."

"You don't get to take them out to these often," she said. "Nobody looks at you weird or wonders why your kid is misbehaving."

Entire families made the trip downtown.

"We all can enjoy the day together," said Robyn Yates. Her son Warren, 9, eyed a rooster at the petting zoo prior to hitting the rides across the street with some help from his brother. "We appreciate having the rides available, so you don't have to stand in lines. It's nice that it's not so crowded. We have a little more space."

Freet said Arnold Amusements deserves a lot of credit.

"It means a lot that Arnold Amusements takes the time for this. They could be making a lot of money right now, and they're not, and it's for us," she said.

Freet would like to see more special events during the year, but she's thankful for the opportunity to have some fun at the Cherry Festival.

"We can't expect everyone to make concessions for us, but it's nice when they do," she said.

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Special to the Record-Eagle/Susan Melton
A National Cherry Festival goer hits new heights at the Open Space.

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