On Saturday 23rd, Mijas enjoyed a family day designed for young and old alike. The Grand Park was the setting for this second Family Day, which featured endless activities, ranging from a charity run to pottery workshops and dance performances.

The mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), explained that the 15th of May was the International Day of Families, and that since then a number of activities had been held to mark the occasion, including this fun-filled day “in a setting surrounded by nature, which provides the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities”. The mayoress, who personally oversees the Department of Family and Equal Opportunities, which organised the event, also thanked other Town Hall departments for their involvement. As she explained, it was thanks to everyone’s efforts that this day could be shared “by fathers, mothers and grandparents with the children”. “Sometimes we live in a society where we rush about without finding that little pocket of time to spend as a family. Moreover, away from screens, away from all the dangers that exist and which we must prevent through activities like this”, added Mata.

Charity run

The day began with a charity run, the proceeds of which will go to the 'Mejor en Familia' Association, which also set up a bar. “The Mijas Town Hall has been kind enough to think of us. We are an association of foster families for children who are in the care of the Andalusian Regional Government. When they are taken from their parents, their biological family, and are aged between 0 and 7, it is better for them to be with a family rather than going to a care centre”.

But the fun-filled family day had much more to offer: food trucks, a DJ, chess and button football were just some of the activities on the programme, alongside flamenco fitness displays, pottery workshops, storytelling for babies aged 1 to 3, and animal activities run by Bioparc. There were also survival skills classes. Lucas Sánchez, instructor at Lucas Bushcraft, explained that what most caught the attention of the participating children was “making fire, building a water filter and shooting with a blowpipe, as these are activities they don’t normally see”, but which are routine at Lucas Bushcraft.

Among the many activities on offer, there was no shortage of storytelling sessions in Spanish and English. Alaska Araluce, in collaboration with the educational toy shop La Cometa, led several of these: “I’ve written a book about family diversity and the value of family to convey that there are many different families here, but they all have something in common: they are united by the heart”.

 

Families’ views

The families who attended this event at the Gran Parque praised this initiative, which allowed them to spend quality time with their children. “We’ve come because we like doing family workshops and there are lots of them here, plus it’s right next to our house”, explained little Daniela Guerrero, alongside her father Antonio, who felt this was “a really positive initiative for the whole family to get together, enjoy the day and spend time together”.

“We’ve been doing loads of activities that the Mijas Town Hall has organised for us today and we’re really enjoying it”, said Javier Morillo alongside his young son Rafa. “I’ve come to have fun and now I’m off to the workshops”, added the very young Paola Gómez after taking part in the run. “The layout of the activities is great,  the race, the workshops..., and there’s also a family stage with performances; so it’s brilliant for spending a day out with the kids”, said Irene Rebeca Quesada, who took part in the run alongside her daughter Tauriel Novoa.

 

Family stage

Indeed, various activities took place on the family stage, including ballet, folklore, Spanish dance and Latin dance performances by UP teachers such as Juan José Leiva, Feli Gabriel and Berni Gabriel. “I love dressing up in flamenco costume and dancing”, said Paqui Torres.

The Mijas Town Hall highlighted this family day, which also featured a talk on dog training, football, basketball, sports games and activities organised by the Círculo de Mujeres Casa Luna association. “People are very happy, especially with the workshops, to be doing things as a family; it’s also great to put mobile phones aside, leave the stress of the week behind and have a family day”, noted councillor Melisa Ceballos (PP). Because when the screens are switched off and quality time is spent with the family, such lovely moments arise as those seen on Saturday at the Mijas Gran Parque.

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