FAIRMONT — The 13th annual Youth Activities Expo will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday in the Fairmont Elementary School main gym.

The expo is free to attend, and co-sponsored by the Healthy Youth Committee and Fairmont Community Education and Recreation.

The theme for this year’s expo is “Come to the Great Escape and Unlock Your Spark.”

Katy Gonzales, a member of the Healthy Youth Committee and executive director of Kinship, said, “Kinship encourages mentors and mentees to find things they’re passionate about — their spark. This (the expo) is a perfect opportunity for families to sign up for ‘their spark.'”

CER director Roni Dauer said the expo is especially great for elementary and junior high kids, though she hopes parents will attend with their children.

The purpose of the expo is to assemble local organizations that serve families and youth in the targeted age group. The expo will include 22 booths with information about the many educational, social services, arts, outdoor and recreational organizations that provide positive growth opportunities for youth.

“It’s a great chance to see what kinds of things are available as opportunities for youth in our community, especially for this summer because people can find out more information and register for summer activities at the expo,” Dauer said.

She went on to say there will be booths from Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Fairmont band and orchestra and some churches. The 1590 “Kids Just Want to Have Fun” committee will be there to talk about the new mini golf course.

Some of the other exhibitors include Fairmont High School robotics team, Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Youth Coalition, Martin County Teen Court, Summer Hunger group, Fairmont Youth Hockey Association and Martin County Early Childhood Dental Network.

Special features of this year’s expo include a “Celebrating Mexico” art show put on by students in grades K-6 and the OREO orchestra recital by grades 5-6 in the cafeteria.

The Healthy Youth committee will provide a meal consisting of pizza, fruit and water.

Michelle Larsen works in the Martin County Probation Department and is also on the Healthy Youth Committee. She said that each of the 22 booths at the expo will have a clue word.

“Once a youth has completed the activity at a booth, they will be given a clue word. Once they have collected all the clue words, it will uncover a secret message. The completed sheet can then be turned into the Healthy Youth Booth to register for the grand prize,” she said.

This year’s grand prize is a family pass to the Fairmont Aquatic Park, though there will be other door prize drawings as well.

For more information, contact CER at (507) 235-3141.