Longest day of play is June 20

• Longest Day of Play article
  By Pamela Hall
   
              Summer Solstice is just around the corner on June 21, which is the longest day of the year. It is the day that has the longest period of sunlight and the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. This is due to the Northern Hemisphere of the earth having its maximum tilt toward the sun. The day has historically been marked by festivals and rituals in many cultures.
   
  Summer Solstice will be celebrated in Greenup County, on June 20 at the Greenup County Farmer’s Market. The event is called “Longest Day of Play” and will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. It is hosted in partnership with the Greenup County Farmer’s Market by the Greenup County Health Department (GCHD) and the Greenup County Extension Office. Others in the community are involved as well, including the Master Gardeners, 4-H, and Greenup County Extension Homemakers.
   
  “There are those that want to give out to the community,” said Cassie Mace of the GCHD, who helped coordinate the event. “We just want to embrace all things play on that day.”
   
  The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a Yoga class, as well as registration for the Lettuce Run (Let us run! Lol) 5k, which will start at 9 a.m. Winners in each category of the 5k will win, yes, you guessed it, a bag of locally grown lettuce, along with other prizes! Proceeds from the race will go toward the Double Dollar program.
   
  The GCHD will be on hand for car seat safety checks from 10 a.m. – noon. Make sure your child is safe in a properly installed car seat! They will also have “Healthy Bites”, which includes recipes made from lettuce, as well as smoothies. The smoothies are not made with an electric blender, however, but by a bicycle-powered blender.
   
  “It is an opportunity for nutritional education,” said Mace, “and it benefits everyone, especially the elderly and those on SNAP and WIC. We also hope to make this an annual event.”
   
  During Crafts for Everyone, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Master Gardeners will help those attending make a snail, and 4-H will help participants build birdhouses. The Homemakers will help participants make special Father’s Day cards. Farmer’s Market Bingo will be from 11:30 – 12:30, with clues being items from the Farmer’s Market. Zumba is at 1 p.m. Come get your dance on!!
   
  Throughout the day there will be door prizes, coloring contests, and lots of fun for everyone.  Longest Day of Play is an event for the whole family that you won’t want to miss. Come to the Greenup County Farmer’s Market, June 20 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for Longest Day of Play and you can play the day away!