Hundreds of kids learn healthy habits during annual Willmar, Minnesota, event – West Central Tribune

WILLMAR

— Kids gathered at the Willmar Civic Center on Saturday to learn fun ways to stay healthy, and keep the world where they play healthy too.

“Our intention is to build a community event where we’re talking about education, both in healthy living for kids and families and giving the opportunity of learning how to be better stewards in our community,” Healthy Earth, Healthy Kids event organizer Christopher Radel said. Radel worked with exhibitors and was the moderator of an event panel on Saturday.

Healthy Earth, Healthy Kids Day is hosted by the

League of Women Voters,

Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA,

Creation Care Team,

the city of Willmar

and

Willmar Public Schools

with support from a variety of other organizations. The event promotes environmental awareness and healthy habits among local youth.

The 2025 event on Saturday was the second of its kind. This year, the volunteers and organizations hosting the event also featured almost 50 exhibitors to engage with children.

Activities included a bounce house, giveaways and the annual YMCA Color Run — always a crowd favorite as youngsters run while being showered in colored chalk.

“One of the biggest ones we have is the fun run. We are giving away free T-shirts for the first 200 kids. They have a nice little picture of peanuts on them. All of the kids get lined up and then they run around the field where people will be throwing chalk at them as they pass,” Radel said.

One major giveaway at the event was conducted by Willmar Bikes, a local biking organization which distributed more than 100 helmets to kids, in conjunction with Rick’s Cycling and also thanks to donated funds. Children who received a helmet were asked to pledge to wear them while riding their bikes.

Funding for the entire event is provided by a combination of donations and grants, helping organizers ensure that there are enough educational materials, and fun materials, available for the all the kids in attendance.

While Healthy Earth, Healthy Kids Day has been going on for two years, the event grew from an event that had been hosted by the YMCA called Healthy Kids Day, also where the Color Run originated. When discussions were in place to start an environmental day, there was a suggestion to combine it with the YMCA’s event to create a larger one which could reach a greater audience.

In the first year in 2024, the event welcomed around 600 kids and organizers estimated a similar turnout this year. With the second year in the books, organizers look forward to the future and how to help kids keep themselves and their planet healthy.

Levi Jones is the West Central Tribune’s business reporter. After growing up in the Twin Cities, Jones attended Hamline University for journalism and media communications. After graduating in 2020, Jones has worked as a reporter covering anything from sports to politics.