This Memorial Day, The Lake Highlands Public Improvement District (PID) is hosting the 1st Annual Lake Highlands Art and Play Festival at the Lake Highlands Town Center. The event, from 8 a.m. to noon, will host local artisans to display and sell their wares along Wildcat Way, with food trucks, music, kid’s crafts and games.
Also on tap will be the Come Out and Play 5K, benefiting Camp Sweeney. After more than 60 years serving children in the piney woods near Gainesville, Camp Sweeney is the finest, most effective, most enjoyable diabetes educational facility in the world. (If I sound a little biased, I’m entitled. My diabetic son spent many summers there, and I spent a few nights there at Family Camp.) When a child is diagnosed and finds his new life with blood sugar tests and insulin injections overwhelming, the doctors and friends he makes at Camp Sweeney reassure him that he can find the inner strength to manage his new lifestyle. Hip, young medical students serve as counselors, convincing him to follow a diet and medical regimen no mommy ever could.
The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and check-in begins at 6:30. You can register for the race here. If you’d rather sleep in but you’d like to support Camp Sweeney, you can pay $20 to get a “Sleep in for Sweeney” shirt.
There’s no parking fee or charge to get in the door, but scorecards will be sold for $10 each to participate in the games and activities of the Sports Challenge Arena. If you’re interested in being a vendor in the artisan fair or becoming a sponsor, you’ll find more information on their event website here.
