Levi Estrada struggles to find his hands in a firefighter’s gear at the Hartselle Fire Academy last summer at Sparkman Park. This year’s Fire Academy will be July 21. | File Photo

Andrea Williamson

Hartselle Enquirer

Hartselle Parks and Recreation has a wide variety of events, camps and classes planned for the public this summer.

From messy outdoor games to spa treatments, sports to artistic endeavors, diverse activities are available for people of all ages and interests. Most of the events are returning from last summer due to their popularity. However, according to Events Coordinator Staci Segler, some of them will be changed slightly to better accommodate the large number of participants.

The Spa Party and Kids in the Kitchen are a couple of the events undergoing changes this summer.

“We had over 30 girls last year for the Spa Party,” Segler said. “This year we are going to have the girls make appointments to improve the experience. We will also be dividing the Kids in the Kitchen Event by age groups this summer.”

The Spa Party will be held Wed, July 1, beginning at 10 a.m. for girls ages 8-10. The registration deadline is June 26, and the $10 fee includes a manicure, pedicure, facial, snacks and a goody bag. The Kids in the Kitchen event will be held Wed., June 24. The class will teach kids about preparing simple breakfast, dinner and dessert dishes and recognizing utensils. The camp for ages 9-10 will be held from 8 a.m.-11 a.m., and the camp for 11-12-year-olds will be held from 1-4 p.m. The cost is $10 per person, and the registration deadline is June 19.

An event that will be returning this summer after being gone for a few years is the Friday Free for All. Kids will have the opportunity to enjoy all sorts of messy games in Sparkman Park on Fri., July 31. Segler described this event as an opportunity for children to play messy games they might not be allowed to play at home.

“We had all sorts of things, including syrup balloons, when we did this a few years ago,” she said. “It’s messy, but the kids love it.”

Friday Free for All will be held at Pavilion Four in the park. The event for ages 5-8 will be from 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. for ages 9-12. Registration deadline is July 29, and the cost is $10.

For a cleaner and more elegant outing, the Daddy Daughter Date Night will be returning this year. The dinner will be held on Fri., June 19, just before Father’s Day. This event for fathers, grandfathers and daughters of all ages will include dinner, dancing and a keepsake photo. Segler commented that that the event is well loved.

“We had daughters come from ages 4-45 last year,” she said. “They just really have a great time with it.”

Date night is $10 per person, and the registration deadline is June 15.

Girls are certainly not the only ones with special events, though. Parks and Recreation also has an event just for boys. Boy 2 Men will be held July 13-17. The class is open to all young men ages 10-14, but it is especially targeted for young men from single mother homes. The class will give the young men an opportunity to learn traditional male skills from other men. Topics will include automotive and lawn care, fishing, camping, grilling and others. This class is free, and the registration deadline is July 8.

While Park and Recreation has many great options for children’s activities, there are also great events for grownups. One option for adults is the monthly paint parties held throughout the summer. June 23, July 21 and Aug. 18., painters will have opportunities to create their own door hangers with a different theme each month. Each event will be held at 6 p.m., and the cost is $15.

Children will only be allowed at the paint parties with adult supervision. However, a new addition this year is the Paintin-Palooza, a paint party specifically for 10-14-year-old artists to make their own door hangers. The crafts are summer themes, and the cost is $15.

In addition to these events, other special activities will include Summer Celebrations at the SNAP Splash Pad every Wednesday in June, a Summer Rummage Sale, Youth Police Academy, Youth Fire Academy, a Princess Party for girls and the annual Hartselle Aquatic Center Luau.

Hartselle Parks and Recreation also has several classes and ongoing summer opportunities for adults and children. These include co-ed and men’s softball teams, ladies’ yoga classes, swimming lessons for children, water aerobics and tumbling classes. Special clinics will also be offered for baton, basketball, soccer and bowling.

Registration is mandatory for all events and classes. Segler stressed the importance of registration.

“Registering for the activities by the deadline helps us to better prepare,” she said. “It is also important because many of our activities have a minimum attendance requirement. If we do not have enough people, we may have to cancel the event.”

To register for any of these or other Parks and Recreation events, please call the Hartselle Civic Center at 256-773-2581. For a full listing of Hartselle Parks and Recreation events and more details, please refer to the Hartselle Enquirer’s Community Calendar.