The annual Safe and Healthy Kids Fair will be held Saturday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Homer High School.

The goal of the fair, which is in its 32nd year, is to promote health and prevent injury among youth.

More than 35 booths and stations will offer hands-on activities for families and kids during the free event, including face painting and a bike raffle, according to a May 8 press release from South Peninsula Hospital.

Other attractions and activities include Beary the Be Well Bear, the teddy bear clinic, Homer Public Library’s BOB the Bookmobile, a fire truck, an ambulance and a police car. Live music will be provided by Homer OPUS, the Marimba Club, the Japanese Drumming Club, and the youth band, She Who Has Gone Mad.

This year’s theme is “fun in the sun” and costumes are encouraged. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary. Kids who have bikes are encouraged to bring them for a free bike inspection and “bike rodeo.” Helmets are required for the event, but at the Homer City Council Regular Meeting on May 12, volunteer Lisa Asselin-Martin with Southern Kenai Peninsula Resilience Coalition said that they will have a large number of helmets at the event that they’re hoping to give out to community youth, free of charge.

“This is something that for the past couple years we’ve raised money for and been able to provide for all youth from your toddlers on their balance bikes to those teens on an adult bike,” said Asselin-Martin. “Bike helmets are a huge need in this community, especially for kids that don’t have access.”

Asselin-Martin also said that the bike rodeo provides a great opportunity to teach bike safety to youth.

“We have a lot of kids on bikes in this community,” she said. “Whether they’re going from the library to home, from schools to the library, just driving around town, really important that they know how to ride their bike, use signals and have helmets.”

The Safe and Healthy Kids Fair is put on by local organizations including South Peninsula Hospital, South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services, and Homer Parks & Rec.

For more information, you can visit the Safe and Healthy Kids Fair page on Facebook or call the SPH community health and wellness nurse at 907-235-0285.