BENTON, Ill. (KFVS) - After the fireworks are over, you can still enjoy summer fun at Rend Lake’s annual Beach Blast.
On Sunday, July 6, folks can head out to South Sandusky Beach for activities for all ages from noon to 4 p.m.
Organizers say there will be beach games, a DJ, a fire truck and ambulance, a helicopter landing, food trucks and more.
The event is free to attend, with day fees waived for beach visitors.
Attendees should bring standard beach essentials and life jackets. Life jackets in all sizes are also available to borrow for free at Rend Lake.
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Bobber the Water Safety Dog will also make an appearance to say hello to guests and pose for pictures.
Breanna Trovillion, natural resources specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake, said it is an exciting day for families.
“Primarily, this is our water safety celebration, because we’re kicking off the summer, reminding people to be safe when they visit the beach,” she said. “We’ll have all kinds of water safety-themed games.”
Some of the concepts Trovillion said they hope families come away with include always wearing a life jacket near water, developing strong swimming skills, swimming with a buddy and knowing who to call for help.
“This is going to be a really busy weekend with it being Fourth of July, so we’re excited to reach lots of people that are visiting the beach and teach them some essentials to stay safe so they can come back again and have fun.”
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Trovillion said Beach Blast is part of the Environmental Science Series, which includes free programs for families on Saturdays through August 30.
“There’s not many free things to do, and when you have a family, it can be hard to get out and not spend a lot of money, so I think we’re really fortunate that we can offer those services to the public.”
Upcoming programs include Captain Current vs. Energy Vampires on June 28, All About Eagles on July 5 and Family Movie Night on July 12.
Visit the Rend Lake Project Office/Visitor Center Facebook page to learn more.
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