Children’s Fair Celebrates 45th Year at Bucklin Park

-Editorial 

Bucklin Park was filled with music, games, and family activities over the weekend as the Children’s Fair marked its 45th year, drawing generations of Imperial Valley residents to one of the region’s longest-running community events.

The fair, held in El Centro, brought together families from across Imperial County for a day of entertainment and education, with more than 120 exhibits and vendor booths offering resources, activities, and interactive learning opportunities for children.

Whether it was enjoying the El Centro Recreation folkloric dancers, participating in painting and games, meeting with firefighters and other public safety personnel, exploring ambulances up close for children, or watching Los Vigilantes prepare tri-tip for attendees, the Children’s Fair served as a community event that brought people together across generations, offering a shared space for families to connect, learn, and celebrate in an engaging and accessible environment.

The event is organized annually by the Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention Council, which works with local partners to promote child safety, strengthen families, and connect residents to community resources.

Yvette Garcia, executive director of the council, said the Children’s Fair has grown significantly since its beginnings more than four decades ago and remains closely tied to the county’s early childhood and family support efforts.

Garcia said the event originated through the efforts of two local leaders, Peggy Calvin, founder of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, and Sue Talley, a former director of early care and education programs at the Imperial County Office of Education. According to Garcia, Talley learned about a similar children’s fair in San Diego’s Balboa Park and suggested bringing the concept to El Centro.

“They came together with just a couple of months’ notice, pulled in a couple of dozen booths, and Kiwanis helped provide wooden carnival-style booths,” Garcia said. “Hundreds of children attended that first event, and that’s how the Children’s Fair began.”

Since then, the fair has expanded steadily, evolving into a major annual gathering that brings together schools, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and service providers.

This year’s edition marked the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the fair expanded again to both the north and south sides of Bucklin Park, allowing for additional booths and programming space.

“We really appreciate the community partners who came out in force this year,” Garcia said. “They wanted to support families and children in the Imperial Valley and share their programs and services.”

The Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention Council, Garcia said, focuses on prevention through education and outreach, including mandated reporter trainings and parenting education programs designed to reduce child abuse and strengthen family systems.

“Our mission is to prevent child abuse through community and parent education,” she said. “By strengthening families in Imperial County, we can help prevent abuse before it happens.”

Garcia emphasized that the council’s parenting programs are designed to be supportive rather than punitive, noting that there is often stigma associated with attending such classes.

“There’s a misconception that parenting classes are only for bad parents,” she said. “They are not. They are for parents who want to strengthen their families.” 

She said the classes are free, include child care, and are structured as interactive group sessions where parents share experiences and strategies rather than passively receive instruction.

“No one is told they are doing something wrong,” Garcia said. “It’s about sharing experiences and learning from each other.”

She added that participants often find comfort in realizing they are not alone in facing parenting challenges.

“It’s not easy being a parent, but you’re not alone,” Garcia said. “In our classes, parents realize that every family faces challenges.”