Halloween and Fall Games Still Tops with Young Kids

by Daniel Applegate
President, Arlington Memorial Gardens

Anybody who thought today’s kids were only interested in video games would have been in for a big surprise at the first annual Kids Fall Festival held at Arlington Memorial Gardens on Saturday, October 5.

Bobbing for apples was a delight at the first annual Arlington Kids Fall Festival.

Despite torrential rain just prior to the 2:00 PM start time, more than 50 children ages 3 through 8 congregated on the South Lawn of Arlington Lake and were, quite literally, off and running. The Arlington Kids Fall Festival featured games that were a throwback to our childhood – and it was gratifying to see today’s kids just as engaged in the games as we were when we were their age.

Smiling faces and squeals and screeches of joy filled the Arlington Memorial Gardens grounds as our young visitors moved from sack races to the old-fashioned bobbing for apples game. And then proceeded to a pumpkin ring toss and then decorated those pumpkins. 

The Arlington Kids Fall Festival presented strong evidence that kids are still kids, regardless of the digital attractions that surround them today.  And, according to John Wright, Arlington Memorial Gardens Coordinator of Special Events, it was hard to tell who was enjoying themselves more -- the kids or their parents. 

The comments we heard from parents were as rewarding as the smiles on their children’s faces. One mother said, "This reminds me so much of when I was a kid" while another offered, "This event is just perfect."

Many of us lament the effects of the digital age and how ever growing digital distractions are influencing today's youth, but the first annual Arlington Memorial Gardens Kids Fall Festival made it abundantly apparent that the activities of a much earlier era still retain their timeless appeal.

As part of our commitment to the community, Arlington Memorial Gardens proudly hosts many events during the course of the year including Remembrance Services, Summer Concerts, Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Sunrise Service, and Bereavement Series – and we are proud to make the Arlington Kids Fall Festival a regular event here, as well.

If you have thoughts on any other events, you’d like to see us host in the future, please contact Arlington Memorial Gardens.

Please click here to see photos from the First Annual Kids Fall Festival at Arlington Memorial Gardens.

Daniel Applegate became part of the Arlington Memorial Gardens organization in 2001 and has worked in the cemetery industry since 1981, including serving as Secretary/Treasurer and then as President of the Ohio state cemetery association.  He was appointed by Ohio Governor George Voinovich and served two terms on the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission, Ohio's cemetery oversight agency. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.

Walking Club Makes Cemetery a Place for the Living: Arlington Memorial Gardens

by Daniel Applegate
President, Arlington Memorial Gardens

Arlington Memorial Gardens introduced our new Arlington Walking Club on June 1, 2013, inviting the public to use Arlington roadways as a literal walking facility. Since then, we’re thrilled to report that over 40 people have registered and are now walking through our grounds on a regular basis.

One might wonder why a cemetery would want to open-up its facilities to an activity like walking? Well, the quick answer to that question is the rhetorical: Why not? But, more deeply than that, the answer lies within the fact that while Arlington is indeed a cemetery with its obvious connection to the dead, it is in reality a place for the living. If, as we believe, that is the case, then we want our facilities to be used as much as practical by the living.

To create an incentive and to introduce an element of competition, we are tracking the distances that each participant walks and then reports to us. As a result of that tracking, we will present an award to the Top 10 finishers each and every month; and then on November 4th, we will present grand prizes to the Top 5 walkers for mileage accumulated from June 1 – October 31.

To be sure, the concept for our Arlington Walking Club initially was very simplistic. However, following our kick-off on June 1st, we continued to think of improvements and expanded our original concept which has now morphed into a much improved model.

As a result, we now have a 2-mile route, a 3-mile route and a 5-mile route. Those routes are defined on maps that are available on this site by clicking here. We also have provided an on-line log for the convenience of participants; the log can be found by following this link. And finally, we post the Top 10 Walkers for each month, which can be found at this Arlington link.

To all of our walking participants, we would merely ask that you exercise the appropriate decorum and respect for our visitors and patrons. I’m sure that goes without saying…and happy walking to all of you.

If you are interested in the Arlington Walking Club, please submit an Arlington Contact Us request for information.

Daniel Applegate became part of the Arlington Memorial Gardens organization in 2001 and has worked in the cemetery industry since 1981, including serving as Secretary/Treasurer and then as President of the Ohio state cemetery association.  He was appointed by Ohio Governor George Voinovich and served two terms on the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission, Ohio's cemetery oversight agency. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.