Charlie’s Kids Fest

Charlie’s Kids Fest Participant Update
RELEASED JAN 9, 2026

Saturday, January 10 • Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse (UW–La Crosse)
Event hours: 12:00–2:45 PM

1) Please read: Check-in + Wristbands Required

If you completed a waiver/registration online, you still must check in at the event.

The Registration Table is the FIRST STOP for all participants, parents, and guardians.

At check-in, youth participants will receive a neon green wristband, which is the verification required to participate in activities.
• No wristband = no participation
• If you see a child participating without a wristband, please notify a student-athlete volunteer or an event lead so we can help.

2) Parking
Parking is squared away: UWL has opened the lots for Saturday.

You may park in any UWL lot for the duration of Charlie’s Kids Fest and Bubba’s Youth Day.

3) Safety + expectations (important)
A few things we’d like everyone to keep in mind:
• Safety is paramount.
• Parent/guardian supervision is required at all times.
• Wristbands are required for youth to participate in activities.
• Our volunteers are UWL student-athletes (not Disney cast members). They’ll be in UWL apparel and name-tagged and are here to help kids have fun safely. Parents/guardians are expected to provide guidance to their child(ren) in the event of any issues that arise.
• The Fieldhouse is a large, open space. Activities will be spread throughout the facility, and some overlap is expected.
• Running is only permitted in activity areas that allow it — please do not run through the facility unless an activity leader indicates it’s part of that station’s game.

4) First-year event note (“happy chaos”)
This is the first year we’re running Charlie’s Kids Fest. We expect to learn a lot, including what we can improve for next year. We’ll send a post-event survey and truly want your honest feedback — your comments will help shape the next Charlie’s Kids Fest.

5) Volunteer / planning team
• Tony Ayala (Bubba’s Fund Co-Founder, former YMCA summer camp director) is serving as event director.
• Planning support includes student-athlete leaders from SAAC (UWL Student Athlete Advisory Committee).
• Volunteer corps is made up of 80+ UWL student-athletes supporting stations, inflatables, and program management.

6) Event flow (map note)
We do not have a final printed map yet. We are at the mercy of inflatable placement, which will be finalized the morning of the event at delivery. Once inflatables are placed, the rest of the stations will lock in around them.

This means the experience is intentionally free-flow this year — no stanchions or roped-off walking lanes — so parents/guardians, please keep your head on a swivel and choose activities that feel safe and appropriate for your child. Our volunteers have ways to modify activities so they are age appropriate, when possible. 

A note on lines and ages
Lines will form, and volunteers will manage them in a way that prioritizes safety. If volunteers notice a mix of very young kids and older kids in a tight space, they may run a “littles first” round and then reset the activity for older kids to participate together. This helps prevent accidents and keeps things fair.
Some stations may use “king/queen of the hill” or “winner stays” formats with limits on consecutive turns — volunteers will use discretion so everyone gets a chance.

7) Mascot + possible special guests
• Stryker the UWL Eagle mascot will be in attendance for photos and meet-and-greets. Stryker will have handlers to help with flow.
• There’s a chance some UWL Women’s Basketball players/staff, even Coach Mo may stop through as they prepare for the game — please give them the courtesy to stay focused and ready for competition.

8) Food + concessions
Concessions within Mitchell Hall will be available starting at noon and will remain open through Bubba’s Youth Day. There may be limited volunteer pizza available later in the afternoon, but concessions will be your most reliable option inside the building. Outside the building are a number restaurants that are open for business and available for your patronage, most plan to be open and are within a stones throw of Mitchell Hall.

9) After Kids Fest: Bubba’s Youth Day (FREE admission)
If you can, we would love for you to stay and help us build a special crowd for:

Bubba’s Youth Day — Presented by Bubba’s Fund
Hosted by UWL Athletics & UWL Women’s Basketball
3:00 PM tip-off • Mitchell Hall Gymnasium
FREE admission for all
UWL Eagles vs. UW–Platteville Pioneers (NCAA DIII)

Even if you can only stay for the start of the game, it would mean the world. Our goal is to Fill Mitchell Hall and create an unforgettable community atmosphere for the team and for kids.

10) Questions day-of
If anything comes up, ask a student-athlete volunteer to relay a message to the event leads, or contact Tony directly.

Thank you again for being part of this first year. Be safe, have fun, and thank you for supporting kids, community, and Charlie’s legacy.

For Charlie. For Children.