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With the school year over and summer vacation underway, the city of Bainbridge held this year’s School’s Out block party downtown last Friday afternoon. Kids had their choice of bounce houses and inflatable slides to choose from, as well as face painting and temporary tattoos, while Joseph Kelly served as the event’s DJ.

The event wasn’t just fun and games though, as it had options for students to continue their education over summer vacation. The Southwest Georgia Library was present, promoting their summer reading program, while the Bainbridge Service Club distributed 200 free books that evening. Also present was Patty Hamilton, representing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program that, according to its website, “is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five”.

Bainbridge special events coordinator Randee Eubanks spoke to the Post-Searchlight about the event afterwards. The city has held this yearly event before, with Eubanks stating that, “We tried to grow it a little this year, I think successfully.” Eubanks estimated at least a couple hundred people attended the event. “We were fortunate to have good weather,” she added.

“We just want to thank everyone for coming out, and have a good summer,” she concluded.

Upcoming events to be held downtown include the city’s monthly Second Saturday festivities, a community Juneteenth event, and the city’s Fourth of July celebration.