It will be all fun and games on May 3 when thousands of children and their parents head out to the James L. Morgan Recreation Complex for the 13th Annual "Sunday in the Park" children's festival, an event organized by a committee of local social service organizations to give area children a day of clean fun.

Arts and crafts and a variety of games, including the ever-popular "bean bag toss", will be open to the more than 2000 who are expected to attend this year's edition of the event, said organizer Daniel Martin of the Scotland County Partnership for Children and Families.

"Whatever game or activity you can think of that is fun for children has probably been done or will be done again" at the festival, Martin said.

Thanks to sponsors, the first 500 children to enter will receive free t-shirts.

"It's a good event for all businesses and organizations to come together and do something for the kids," Martin added.

Weather permitting, Scotland County Parks and Recreation may open up the splash pad facility for the young guests' enjoyment.

Public safety workers, including fire departments and emergency medical workers will also be in attendance, putting their equipment on display.

Sunday in the Park was once held at the smaller Hammond Park, but outgrew that location as its popularity increased.

One past project completed by children at the festival was a mural for public display which they all took part in decorating.

Asked what the most alluring attraction was to the children, Martin reported that "any character, like the Cat in the Hat, or the Wizard of Oz crew that came out one year, they love."

However, those popular characters are trumped, every year, by one festival feature.

"They love the free t-shirts," said Martin.

Festivities are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and continue until 5.

Martin serves as advertising director on the committee responsible for the event. That committee is headed by Sandy Carter of Laurinburg's Childcare Directions.