With more activities than ever before, the City of Santa Clarita’s annual action-packed Youth Sports and Healthy Families Festival returns for its seventh year. The free, family-friendly event will again be host to a multitude of sports, activities, healthy lifestyle education and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex, located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway.

This event packs over 30 activities into one day, all in one location, for thousands of Santa Clarita residents. In addition to being an exciting day for families, the Youth Sports and Healthy Families Festival also provides kids the opportunity to try out new sports and activities without an associated cost.

“This yearly event is one of the most enjoyed by residents in our City,” said Mayor Marsha McLean. “The Youth Sports and Healthy Families Festival is a great opportunity for families to spend time together while learning more about making healthier eating choices and easy ways to stay active, as well as exploring new youth sports and activities.”

Photos: City of Santa Clarita

Throughout the 22 acres of the Santa Clarita Sports Complex and its facilities, families can experience an eclectic assortment of activities including kayaking, boxing, futsal, inner-tube water polo, racquetball, stand-up paddle boarding, fencing, and S.N.A.G. golf. Classic sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and tennis can also be enjoyed.

As the festival grows in attendance and popularity year after year, additional activities are added to enhance the experience. This year’s additions include an expanded disc golf course, a second rock wall, an enclosed slide, and new lawn games. Kids and adults alike can also test their skills on the extended tricycle course.

A portion of the festival, the Play Every Day! area, will feature an assortment of back-to-the-basics activities like hop scotch, tetherball, jump rope and hula hoop reminding families of easy ways to stay active on a daily basis.

Living an active lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with healthy eating habits and in support of this, both Kaiser Permanente and Whole Foods will be sponsoring the Healthy Families Experience in the Activities Center during the festival. Families will have the opportunity to learn interesting facts about food, receive tips on how to live a more active lifestyle and interact with various informational and educational displays. Kids are encouraged to partake in the Whole Foods Explore the Store! area, which allows kids to browse fresh fruit and vegetables and participate in the Create Your Plate activity. These activities highlight healthy eating habits and provide tips on how to put together more balanced meals. Nature & Bakery will also be handing out healthy snacks.

The Healthy Families Experience will include a designated area for younger kids, sponsored by My Gym, with activities like running, jumping, hopping, skipping, throwing, kicking and catching games, as well as arts and crafts. Additionally, children will have the opportunity to plant their own herbs with assistance from the Community Garden Club of Santa Clarita and face painting and other activities will be provided by the Santa Clarita Library.

Additional entertainment will feature high-energy demonstrations from local groups like TK Tae Kwan Do, Ballet Folklorico, Hoop Dance, Shins Martial Arts, Hawaiian Dance, Gym Cheer, and the Star Dance Center. Newhall Community Center will also hold a demonstration of their popular boxing program.

Throughout the festival, attendees will also have the chance to enter a raffle for the chance to win great prizes including amusement park tickets, restaurant gift cards, and professional sports memorabilia. All raffle proceeds will benefit the City’s SCORE program, which provides recreation scholarships for youth. A variety of food trucks will be on site with food for purchase.

For more information about the 2015 Youth Sports and Healthy Families Festival, please visit santa-clarita.com/youthsportsfestival or call the City’s Youth Sports Office at (661) 250-3756. For more information about volunteer opportunities at the event, call (661) 250-3708 or visit SantaClaritaVolunteers.com to sign up.