Ansbach, Hohenfels, & Grafenwoehr, Germany – April 26, 2025 – Our teams fanned out across Bavaria for the annual Kinderfest—a Family & MWR tradition that showers military kids with hands‑on fun, community connection, and purple‑pride spirit.
April is the Month of the Military Child, and this year’s Army‑wide theme—“Building Stronger Character and Relationships”—echoed across every booth, bounce house, and bubble wand. In total, more than 3,000 children, parents, Soldiers, and community partners took part in the three‑site celebration.
“The staff were wonderful to work with—they helped us carry boxes, found us a perfect booth location, and made us feel genuinely welcome.”
—Kate Ness, Director of ABA – East
Mini yoga sessions: With OT Callie Spears guiding the poses, small groups of children tried five‑to‑six yoga moves right at our booth.
Teddy‑bear magic: A towering plush bear drew constant traffic; parents snapped photos while little ones patted its fur. The boy who won the bear nearly cried with happiness; his two younger brothers helped haul their new friend away after we announced the winner live on the on‑site radio station.
Community impact: From current clients who stopped to say hello to new faces curious about our programs, Graf proved an ideal space to share information about local resources—and we would love to return next year.
“Kinderfest 2025 was a fantastic day filled with sunshine, fun, and community spirit. Bubbles drew constant crowds, and many visitors stopped to take photos or hug the giant bear. Just before the raffle winner was announced, a large group of kids gathered at our booth, eagerly waiting for the final moments. The raffle prize went to a grandmother‑to‑be, who was absolutely thrilled with her win.”
—Anja Cope, Operations Manager
Static‑display gear from the JMRC Falcon Team and local Fire Department stole the show:
Kids clambered into a UH‑72 helicopter cockpit and learned how crew chiefs communicate on headsets.
A mini fire‑hose target game let future firefighters knock down cones with real water pressure.
Outdoor Rec archery lanes, drone play, and a field of giant inflatables challenged gross‑motor skills and courage.
Our bubble bar and giant bear proved just as popular here—reinforcing that simple sensory fun resonates across the entire garrison.
“The mood was festive, from the gym with a live DJ and bounce houses from wall-to-wall to the sunny and bubble-filled outdoor booths.”
—David Cole, COO
Clinical Director Gillienne Nadeau kept busy at our booth, where the bubble machine, Orbeez® sensory bins, and kinetic-sand trays were in constant use by eager little hands.
The post gym morphed into a festival zone: a live DJ booth pumped upbeat tracks while rows of bounce houses stretched wall‑to‑wall.
We reconnected with current clients, met new families, and swapped ideas with Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) reps—community building at its best.
Purple cupcakes from the USO and healthy snack samples from the Commissary kept everyone fueled for more jumping and dancing.
Kinderfest is more than a single day—it’s a reminder that playful, inclusive spaces strengthen our whole community. We’re excited to roll the momentum (and maybe a few stray Orbeez) into upcoming summer programs. If you captured great photos, tag us on social and let’s keep celebrating our military kids all year long!
