May 2 is going to be a fun-filled day of educational safety activities in Carbon County.

On Friday, Carbon County and state officials met to announce the annual Carbon County Community Safety Day during the group's kickoff meeting. It is hosted by state Sen. John T. Yudichak, the Carbon County commissioners, Blue Mountain Health System Kid Zone and Carbon Masonic Lodge 242.The event will again be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, on the grounds of Mauch Chunk Lake Park and is free and open to all Carbon County families.Mindy Graver, of Kid Zone and one of the original organizers of the event, said that last year over 1,000 people attended and 25 agencies participated.She said she hopes to have more agencies involved this year.Mark Davis, communications director for Yudichak's office, said that Community Safety Day is very beneficial for the families of the county."It truly is a community event for the community," he said. "If you look at the way this has grown and continues to grow, it's all about people helping people."The day will include dozens of state and county agencies, emergency responders and medical helicopters converging on the park grounds to share educational tips.Agencies and organizations will be set up throughout the park to educate children and their parents about various safety issues, including water safety, animal safety, fire safety, bicycle safety, poison control and more.Some agencies that will be set up include the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, numerous volunteer fire companies, St. Luke Hospital-Miners Campus, Blue Mountain Health System, Carbon County Sheriff's Office and the Carbon County Animal Response Team.Fun activities like face painting and the coconut crusher demonstration, which shows the importance of wearing a helmet, are planned; and free food and giveaways will be available.Registration information is being sent to agencies that have expressed interest in participating.For more information on being part of the event, becoming a volunteer, or donating, contact Graver at 570-325-2788 or email

mjg26@psu.edu.The Carbon County Community Safety Day is made possible through a collaboration between the Masonic Lodge, Carbon County Commissioners and the former Carbon County Safe Kids, now Kid Zone.The event was previously known as the Carbon County Fun-N-Safety Fair and held on Fifth Street in Jim Thorpe, but after a number of successful years, the event outgrew the location.In 2013, Yudichak partnered with the groups and the event was moved to its current location at the lake.Since 2013, the Community Safety Day has grown in size and popularity with families and is made possible through business donations and dozens of volunteers.