Sybella Dillon, 4, slides down an inflatable slide at the Spring Fling Friday, April 5.

An energetic youngster shows off for Dad in the bouncy house.

WARSAW — The monthly downtown tradition of closing off the center of Warsaw has returned after several months off with the Spring Fling, the name of the inaugural First Friday celebration of 2019, held Friday night, April 5.

“This is our 11th year and we are sponsored by the city of Warsaw with help from the parks department, the street department and funded by the Dr. Dane & Mary Louise Miller Foundation,” said Coordinator Paula Bowman.

Bowman said an Easter egg hunt, sponsored by Crossroads Community Church’s Kid’s Zone, would allow youngsters in different age groups to hunt for as many as 10,000 eggs. Bowman said the choice to not hold First Fridays in February or March (January has typically not been a First Friday month) was based on weather concerns and the fact that the showcase event during the colder months has traditionally been ice sculptures.

“The weather, because it was so very cold, or so very warm, we couldn’t do ice sculptures,” Bowman said. “It was either too cold and it cracked the ice, or it was too warm and melted the ice. So, we’re actually scheduling the ice sculptures for December (in 2019). We will bring them into our holiday celebration and it will be great fun.”

As scores of children lined up behind ropes to get at the numerous eggs lying on the courthouse lawn, Mayor Joe Thallemer said the weather was cooperating tremendously.

“It’s about 62 degrees and that makes all the difference in the world and with the kids being on spring break, it’s kind of nice to see a big group of kids here,” Thallemer said. “We decided to try to focus on (months) four through 12, April through December, and it looks like it paid off, look at these kids.”

The event also featured numerous booths, inflatable children attractions, food locations, music and a remote control car race.