Bubbles, Spanish dancers, and face paint - Frolic at the Lake was a family-friendly event

Children dance through a storm of bubbles

By Diane Hettrick

Photos by Wayne Pridemore

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA) held their second Frolic at the Lake on Thursday, August 22, 2019 in Echo Lake Park.

The Big Red Truck had a full menu

The Big Red Truck sold a full menu of food. I can personally vouch for the Big Kahuna sandwich, but suggest a lot of napkins and a bib to go with it. Appropriately for a kid-friendly event, there were three kinds of macaroni and cheese.

Dennis Terpstra has to decide between brownies and cupcakes

Shoreline's Sweet Pearl Bakery was there with delicious brownies that sold out before the evening was over, cookies, and beautiful cupcakes in pretty pink boxes.

Nicole Sowers of Sweet Pearl Bakery sold cupcakes with
mermaid tails diving into a purple and white sea of frosting

Sweet Pearl has become a staple at the Frolics. Their cupcakes are works of edible art.

The Spanish dance group from Echo Lake Elementary was absolutely charming. They were having such a good time - clearly and justifiably proud of themselves. They ranged in age from rising preschool to Einstein.

Beautiful costumes and spirited dancing

The littlest almost preschooler stood up with the rest, had an attack of shyness and ran to her mom. "She always does that," I was told. "She'll be ready next year." She sat out the performances.

Boys from left: Jayden Landeros, Josuha Toledo-Fischer, Christian Landeros,
In front: Alice Landeros

They did two dance sets, with twirling skirts and stamping feet. They finished with La Macarena with some audience members spontaneously joining in.

River King-Jahnke opted for a rainbow

Aubrye Jacques is an artist with face paint. The kids were lined up all evening for a chance to get some wearable art.

Everyone wanted some wearable art from Aubrye
and were willing to wait for it.

 

I saw one girl with a beautiful blue and glitter creation and a boy with a spider and web. Aubrye had a demo card so customers could choose their design.

The Bubbleman delighted the children

Then the Bubbleman did his set - full of goofy irreverence and silliness that had children dancing around him through storms of bubbles.

The event was open to the public. The Frolics will be held again next year - watch for them in August - and bring the kids.