Adirondack Kids Day: 3rd annual event bringing family activities to Inlet’s Arrowhead Park, Saturday, Oct. 4th

The 3rd annual Adirondack Kids Day is set for Saturday, October 4 in Inlet, New York with major sponsor, KIWANIS of the Central Adirondacks.

Gary and Carol VanRiper sign books and talk to visitors at the Adirondack Kids table at last year’s Adirondack Kids Day in Inlet. Photo by Dave Scranton

Gary and Carol VanRiper sign books and talk to visitors at the Adirondack Kids table at last year’s Adirondack Kids Day in Inlet. Photo by Dave Scranton

The event was inspired by the best-selling children’s book series, The Adirondack Kids, by Gary and Justin VanRiper, and last year received Honorable Mention status from the Adirondack Park Agency for “Most Authentic Adirondack Event.”

The father-and-son writing team from Camden, NY created and launched The Adirondack Kids in 2001, which revolves around three best friends who grow up in the Adirondacks along the Fulton Chain of Lakes, with Inlet as their home base.

There are now 14 books in the series with more than 120,000 copies sold.

Inlet also happens to be where the co-authors with wife, mom and illustrator, Carol VanRiper, share a camp that has been in Carol’s family for 108 years, the location providing the initial inspiration for their story ideas.

Organizers for Adirondack Kids Day describe the event as dedicated to children, with many free activities from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.—rain or shine.

Authorities in outdoor recreation will be sharing their expertise in such areas as paddling and hiking.

Mark Manske with Adiron-dack Raptors will hold a demonstration with several of his amazing birds of prey. And Master Photographer Eric Dresser will offer a slide show on Wildlife of the Adirondacks.

The wildly popular Fishing Derby, supervised by the DEC, is set again for children 12 and under who are accompanied by an adult.

The Derby is sponsored by the Inlet Area Business Association and French Louie ADK Sports.

Face painting will be offered by children’s book illustrator Maggie Henry, and representatives from the Word of Life Ranch will be on hand with a petting zoo and horseback rides.

At Putterfingers mini-golf there will be the chance to win an autographed book from The Adirondack Kids series and children will also have opportunity to build their own stuffed animal with the Youth Commission Animal Workshop.

VIEW is sponsoring a Sidewalk Chalk Art activity, also an opportunity to learn to draw with professionals.

The hub of the event is a Children’s Authors & Illustrators Book Fair to be held under a large tent at The Adirondack Reader, featuring more than a dozen authors and illustrators, all with children’s books set in the Adirondacks.

Special guest authors include Syracuse News Channel 9’s Christie Casciano; Diane Chase, author of the Adirondack Family Time guidebooks; and The Adirondack Kids authors and illustrator team, Justin, Carol and Gary VanRiper.

“We continue to be honored that KIWANIS of the Central Adirondacks and the community of Inlet have been so supportive of Adirondack Kids Day,” said cofounder Gary VanRiper.

“We hope this day will encourage and inspire many more families to explore and enjoy this special region creating memories to last a lifetime and traditions to last for generations, as it has for our family.”

For more information on Adirondack Kids Day contact the Inlet Information Center at 1-866-Go-Inlet or (315) 357-5501.

For a complete schedule of the day’s activities, visit The Adirondack Kids Facebook page.

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