To beat the winter blues during break from school some children went to a fun event Wednesday.

The Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department offered an event called Get Your Game On! for any children in kindergarten through fifth-grade. Jenny Davis, recreation program supervisor, said it’s just a different activity because most of the department’s activities are outdoors.

“The arena gets really busy,” Davis said.

The event was at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center from 10:30 a.m. until about 3 p.m. Davis had many different activities planned for the kids including games indoors like Hungry Hungry Hippos, Sorry! and more. Then there was outdoor time planned to let the kids run around and play tag and other games like wiffle ball and kickball.

Then Davis ordered Domino’s pizza and the kids got to watch “Despicable Me.” She also had a short tour of the theater planned where she shared some of the history and secrets of the building with the children. Dylan Studier was one of the children at the event, and said he thought the theater was cool. He also said he was looking forward to playing games and other parts of the day.

“We get to watch a movie,” Studier said.

Davis said she looks forward to events like this as well because it’s a chance for her to get out of the office and play games with the kids.

“That’s the fun part of my job is that I get to go out and do fun things,” Davis said.

Davis was there with the eight children who planned to come to the event. This is the third year the event was offered, but it was canceled last year after not enough children were signed up.

Parks and Rec offers other activities for children when school is out. Some upcoming events are a trip to the Rochester House of Bounce on Jan. 20, Arty Party on Feb. 10 and snow tubing at Mount Kato on Feb. 20, among others.

People can register for the youth programs by going to www.cityofalbertlea.com and clicking on the Parks and Rec icon. For more information call 377-4370.