Bounce houses, potato-sack races, face painting, live reptiles and exotic insects are ways for the Basin Recreation staff to show how much they appreciate the community's support.

All of these things and more will be part of the free Kids Karnival that will be held at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"We hold a Kids Karnival twice a year, when summer starts and when summer ends," said Lisa Phinney, front desk supervisor at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse. "We invite the community out to participate in some fun and free activities. These events are a way for us to thank everyone their continued patronage throughout the years. The Karnival is also a way for kids to have some fun before school starts."

Saturday's party will feature face painting by Samantha Bartko, who is the owner of Face Painting by Samantha.

"She is amazing and does some pretty elaborate work," Phinney said. "Her line is always pretty long and people will wait for her because they love her."

Bartko will be providing the face painting for free, but will accept tips.

"So, if people want to give her some gratuity, they are more than welcome to," Phinney said. "She always comes for free, because it's a way to get her name out there."

Another Samantha - Samantha Simon - author of the family activity book "Utah 4 Kids" will be at the Kids Karnival as well.

"She will host some activities during the day as well," Phinney said. "We'll be selling her book, which is loaded with ideas for kids and families to do throughout the year around the state."

People will also be able to buy pizza slices from the Park City Pizza Company and gelato from New York Johnny's Italian Ice, and participate in other activities and games for prizes.

"In the past we've made bracelets and ornaments," she explained. "This year, we'll try to make some animal masks and things like that."

The games include hula hooping and potato-sack races.

"Some of the activities will take place outside and some will be inside the fieldhouse," Phinney said. "This time we'll have an assortment of table-top games and prize booths as well. And we are also planning on having a zumbatomic demo, which is zumba for kids, a couple of times during the Karnival."

One of the other popular exhibits at the event will be Kim's Cold-Blooded Creatures, which include a live eight-foot Columbian boa constrictor named Cassie and an African bullfrog named Cronk.

"Kim Lange has brought her exotic pets to our summer camps and the kids just love her," Phinney said. "During the critter camp time, she comes one day and teaches the little ones about her pets. So, we thought she would be fun addition to the Kids Karnival."

Lange is looking forward to showing off her animals at the Karnival.

"We'll will have a booth set up with all the animals on display," Lange told The Park Record. "In addition to Cassie, I will bring a Mexican fire leg tarantula, an emperor scorpion, a my Tanzanian tailless whip scorpion that kids know from 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'"

Lange's booth will also feature her bearded dragon, her blue-tongued skink, a leopard gecko and lots of different types of snakes and turtles.

"I like to have animals there that everyone can touch," she said. "If people are squeamish about holding the snakes and invertebrates, they can hold the turtle."

While kids and adults hold and touch the animals, Lange will answer questions.

"Parents can come with their cameras and take pictures of their kids with the animals and I'll tell them where the animals are from, what they eat and how to take care of them."

Last June, more than 800 people attended the Kids Karnival and we're hoping for the same this Saturday.

"We are kind of the heartbeat and hub of all the information that is going on in the area parks and other outdoor activities. We think it's important to get children involved in our youth sports programs and we frequently seek out parent coaches," Phinney said. "So the Kids Karnival is another way to introduce them to the fieldhouse and fitness facility and hopefully, get them involved."

The bi-annual free Kids Karnival will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse,1388 Center Dr. at Kimball Junction, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.basinrecreation.org.