Email   Print   Share By Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious May 31, 2012 | Leisure

Melissa Farah and her twins, Arianna and Arius, 2, play in the sand and water at BLORA’s Sierra Beach during the 2012 Water Fest Saturday. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Competitors in the Drowned-Rat Race at BLORA’s 2012 Water Fest climb into giant inflatable “hampster balls” and race through a course Saturday. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Kimderly Schaar, 12, launches a water balloon at her opponents in the Water Wars at BLORA’s 2012 Water Fest Saturday. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Families enjoy the paddleboat rides at BLORA during Water Fest Saturday. The paddleboats are available at BLORA during the summer. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area’s annual Water Fest celebrated the beginning of summer for the Fort Hood area Saturday and Sunday.

BLORA’s 2012 Water Fest featured attractions such as a kid’s kayak pool, a 40-foot alligator slip n’ slide and a 21-ft inflatable waterslide. There was also a Water Wars water balloon toss where children could sling-shot water-filled balloons at each other, a professional bass fisherman who performed demonstrations and gave tips on how to catch fish, free pony rides and a Drowned-Rat race where participants raced each other in giant inflatable balls.

Lisa Bass, BLORA’s outdoor recreation program coordinator, said that every year they consider Water Fest to be a “mini vacation without the many miles.”

“This is our way of celebrating the end of school and the beginning of Summer,” Lisa said.

Lisa also said this is the first year they have done Water Fest so early. It usually takes place the first weekend of June, but this year they held the event over Memorial Day weekend. The date change-up meant a bigger celebration because there were a lot of Families visiting from other states over the long weekend.

Lisa’s husband, Dennis Bass, the maintenance supervisor at BLORA, said Water Fest is an event that people have been coming back to for years and years.

“It’s always been a way to kick off the summer season at the park to make people aware of BLORA’s facilities,” Dennis said.

Lisa and Dennis both agreed that they could not make Water Fest the huge success that it is without their volunteer help. Soldiers from Fort Hood make up most of the supervising help at Water Fest, and Lisa said they work hard to make it a safe and fun environment for the parents and children attending.

Many guests relaxed at BLORA’s Sierra swimming beach. Children swam in a marked-off portion of Belton Lake and built sand castles on the shore under the watch of BLORA’s lifeguards. The certified lifeguards at BLORA are also Soldiers from Fort Hood, and are attentive to any problems that might arise throughout the day.

Melissa Farah, whose husband is currently deployed in Kuwait, brought her 2 year old twins, Arianna and Arius, to Water Fest for the day. They had fun playing in the more shallow parts of Sierra Beach, building sandcastles with their mom.

“It’s a nice way to get them out of the house for the day,” Farah said.

Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Shreve, of 3rd Battalion, 395th Infantry Regiment, 1st Army Division West, and his Family were among the Water Fest attendees on Saturday. Shreve and his wife, Elizabeth, brought their Family to the event for the first time.

“This isn’t our first time at BLORA, because we come here a lot with the kids, but this is our first time at Water Fest and we’ve been having a good time all day,” Elizabeth said. “This is the first time all year for anyone to have these experiences, and it’s active fun for the kids.”

Douglas’ mother, Alice Pizzini, was visiting the Shreve Family from Oklahoma over Memorial Day weekend, and said she was enjoying the opportunity to be at the celebration with her grandchildren.

In addition to the Water Fest activities, BLORA’s usual attractions added to the fun. The paddleboat area, Sierra swimming beach, Phantom Phlume waterslide and concessions are familiar attractions during the summers around Fort Hood.

“Spending some time at BLORA is a great opportunity to do something close to home,” Lisa said. “It is safe and fun, and always Family-friendly.”

Even though Water Fest is over, BLORA offers many water attractions that are available all summer. Sierra Beach, Phantom Phlume, the paddleboats and boat rentals for fishing, partying and skiing are all available. Outside of the water activities, BLORA has mountain bike trails, BLORA Ranch where guests can ride horses, paintball, camp grounds, pavilions for parties and events.

For more on BLORA’s activities, events, rental equipment, entry prices and other general information, visit the website at http://www.hoodmwr.com/lake_activities.htm or call 287-4907.