Flint community event features free games, food, fun

FLINT, Mich. — DREAMS, Inc. will host its third annual Day of Play from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Durant Park, 305 Witherbee St., in Flint.

The free community event will feature bounce houses, outdoor games, music and food, with the first 200 youth receiving hot dogs, snacks and drinks. Families can also enjoy board games and a cooling space inside the Community Enrichment Center, made possible by Communities First, Inc.

Community partners Flint PAL, Brown Impact Media and Team One Credit Union will also be on-site to connect with attendees and help create a safe and welcoming environment.

DREAMS Executive Director Royce Stephens said the event is designed to provide a safe, joyful space for youth in a city where many face challenges early in life.

“Our kids are navigating a world filled with violence, crime, and instability, and far too many are losing pieces of their childhood to circumstances they didn’t choose,” Stephens said. “Free play isn’t just recreation — it’s an act of healing and resistance. 

Volunteers are needed for food service, bounce house supervision, game facilitation and clean-up. Set-up begins at 9 a.m., and Oren Street will be closed from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for safety.