By Sarah Brookbank

[email protected]

UK Greek and student organizations welcomed costumed children and their parents to the annual Kitty Karnival at the E.S. Good Barn Field Tuesday.

The homecoming event featured 24 booths with prizes and activities and a petting zoo provided by Rosies Ponies.

Kappa Kappa Gamma had a cake walk, Delta Delta Delta made balloon animals and Alpha Delta Pi had a face painting station.

Delta Tau Delta’s activity let kids throw wet sponges at fraternity members, and Triangle fraternity and Phi Gamma Delta were both giving out fish to kids that won their games.

Olivia Carner, Kitty Karnival chair for the Student Activities Board and accounting and finance sophomore, said they hoped to see 300 people attend the event.

“Our hope is that alumni come (and) bring their children,” Carner said.

Carner said involving alumni will help keep the traditions surrounding homecoming strong. The goal of the Kitty Karnival is to give back to the community, Carner said.

She said the event doesn’t just brings the participating organizations together, but also forms important bonds with the community and UK alumni.

Apart from the regular homecoming promotions, Carner said organizers sent flyers to five surrounding elementary schools.

That’s how Kathryn Fields found out about the Kitty Karnival. Her son, who attends Maxwell Elementary, brought home a flyer. She said she was glad that UK hosted the carnival.

“You don’t see these kinds of games anymore,” Fields said.

Her son, dressed as Wolverine, was busy winning candy at another booth and left his mother to hold his prizes.

“He just won a fish, so he’s good,” Fields said.

Megan Sin, an international studies senior, was working at the DanceBlue booth, where children could fill pumpkin necklaces with colored sand.

“It’s a great way to see kids,” said Sin, who was handing out candy to siblings dressed as a princess and Spiderman.

Sin said it is important for their organization to be at events that involve children because the money they raise is for the benefit of children with cancer.  Last year DanceBlue raised $1,113,189.42, according to its website.

Psychology freshman Amber Sexton said she’s glad that homecoming and Halloween are close together because it was great to see kids in costume at the event.

Sexton said events like the Kitty Karnival are important “not only UK, but the community.”