One of the final events of the Bell Tower Festival is traditionally the kids fishing derby at Spring Lake Park.

The free event takes place on Sunday from 1 to 4pm. Greene County Conservation Director Dan Towers says the contest is for children ages 4 to 15. Bigger prizes are awarded to the kids that catch the biggest fish. However, Towers points out that every participant will receive a prize, due to the generosity of the community.

“Butch Ganoe goes out and solicits donations. The last couple of years we’ve had over $1,000 to work with to buy prizes. We usually we have somewhere around 100 entries. And everybody wins something, the majority of them end up with a fish rod and reel.”

Towers adds the event is also used as encouragement for those who don’t normally fish.

“It’s very popular and the kids love it. It’s just a good way to get kids out to experience fishing and hopefully they talk their parents into going again next weekend.”

The kids fishing derby is free and registrations will happen prior to the contest starting around 1pm.