Early Childhood Family Education, or ECFE, and the New Ulm Parks and Recreation hosted the fair.

ECFE Coordinator Betty Uehling said over 300 people attended the annual event, which has been taking place in New Ulm for over 35 years. Park and Recreation donated the space, tables, chairs, and bounce houses, while ECFE connected families with the different programs.

“Our goal for the fair is for families to find out about resources that support birth through second grade and connect families those families with the programs,” Uehling said. “Each booth has a hands on activity so parents can talk to representatives of that organization while the children are still engaged. Some of these booths have been here for many years in a row, others, like Healing Rhythms Music Therapy, LLC, is their first year.”

Healing Rhythms Music Therapy was a popular booth with the little ones, as it had a variety of music instruments on display, which children were encouraged to try out. Other booths, like the ECFE had toys with a purpose.

Adrianna Evers and Declan Pioske play in the dirt and learn at the same time. Cottonwood Valley Nature Preschool helps children slow down and learn about self, nature, and community with activities like planting sunflower seeds.

“The energy and creativity of this age of discovery is so fun,” said representative for ECFE Alyssa Nissen.

She engaged in playtime with several children by getting down on the floor and helping them hunt for springtime items with little shovels and spoons. Parents often joined in for all the activities at each booth, making a good time for all.

The Optimist Club of New Ulm have all of their funds go towards youth programs such as this. They had a drop the ball game at their booth where children could win superhero costumes like a mask and cape. There was even a spot set up for a photo opportunity with their put the ‘I’ in KIND poster.

There was a lot of swag with things like bubbles, candy, pencils, stickers, magnets, fidgets all for the taking at booths. The most popular spots were the booths like the Brown County 4-H, University of Minnesota Extension that had a live chicken for children to pet or Cottonwood Valley Nature Preschool which had a baby pool filled with dirt for children to pot sunflower seeds. Parents were learning and playing as much as their children.

“I’ve taken away some good parenting strategies and crafts. It’s been good to connect with businesses,” said parent Mikaela Pioske.

Alyssa Nissen helps Owen Herzog and Ainsley Herzog dig for springtime treasures as part of the ECFE booth at the Free Community Fair.

Jamie Walth watched her children make spring kites at a booth hosted by the New Ulm Public Library. Head Librarian, Kathryn Tatnall handed out flyers and explained this year’s summer reading program, which is Color Our World and begins on June 9, 2025.

“It’s a good way to get the wiggles out,” said Walth.

Head children’s librarian, Kathryn Tatnall helps Hudson Walth and Avery Walth make paper kites.

New Ulm Park and Recreation provided bounce houses for the Free Community Family Fair on Saturday morning.

Superhero Wyatt Hartman poses as the ‘I’ in KIND for the Optimist Club at the Free Community Family Fair.