Sponsor of the Year 2005

Wilkes Regional Medical Center's New Beginnings Birthing Center

Wilkes Regional Medical Center's New Beginnings Birthing Center provided sponsorship for Petey's Place, The Children's Area. Petey's Place is specially designed for children to visit during the regular festival schedule. Throughout the festival, activities were planned in Petey's Place for children of all ages. Children could attend the activities alone or with their parents and many families felt comfortable leaving their children in Petey's Place during activities while others attended together and made it a family event. The sponsorship from the New Beginnings Birthing Center allowed festival organizers to expand the opportunities provided in Petey's Place while ensuring that every single activity was free to all who attended.

Children enjoyed carnival games and prizes, face painting, puppet shows, a mural wall, story telling, crafts, and performances by festival musicians. With all of the activity in the Children's Area, together with a beautiful natural setting in a near a gentle waterfall and creek, the squeals of delight from the children could be heard quite clearly. All of the children who visited Petey's Place were quickly encouraged to Òjoin in the funÓ and even the most timid and the youngest little ones had a grand time.

The sponsorship from Wilkes Regional Medical Center New Beginnings Birthing Center was crucial to the success of the Children's Area. The funds were used to hire a certified elementary school teacher as the Children's Area Coordinator and to provide crafts, games, and prizes to the children. By expanding and improving the Children's Area, Carolina in the Fall was able to attract more families and reinforce the festival goal of providing a family-atmosphere environment for the outdoor event.