By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The 2025 Ellis County Community Fair will unite health and support services under one roof in Hays.
The Ellis County Health Department will host this year’s fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine St., offering attendees a chance to discover local resources.
"Our greatest mission is bridging the gap between public services and people who need them," Ellis County Health Department director, Mellisa Miller, said.
The third-annual fair will feature booths from organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, Catholic Charities, Cottonwood Extension District, Hays Recreation Commission, High Plains Mental Health, United Way of Ellis County and USD 489.
The event is free to attend, but the health department will also provide $25 sports physicals for the upcoming school year with no appointment required.
Activities will include cornhole, balloon pop, prize wheels, face painting, ring toss and a bingo-style raffle with a $450 prize.
"Each vendor will have a stamp for the attendees' bingo card. And then when their bingo card is full, we'll draw a card and the winner will be notified," Miller said.
In addition to booths inside the mall, outdoor vendors and organizations will feature the Hays Public Library bookmobile, KansasWorks Mobile Center and Chick-fil-A.
The first 50 attendees will get free hot dogs and popcorn.
"We just wanted to create an inviting environment with a carnival theme, so a little less like a resource fair and more like a celebration of the community and what it has to offer," Miller said.
You can find more information on the Ellis County Health Department here and follow it on Facebook.