The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

It is time once again for the annual Cops and Kids picnic in Orange County.

The completely free even will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. on Friday at Claiborne West Park. Day care centers and area churches along with families are invited to attend.

Last year more than 1,300 children went to the park to join in on all the fun. This year, officials are expecting there to be more children at the park and up to 1,700 children coming to the event.

This is the 19th year for the annual picnic organized by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. There will be food such as hot dogs, chips, drinks, cotton candy, sno-cones and ice cold watermelon.

There will also be a petting zoo and two super slides and a moonwalk.

This year, the Big Thicket Outlaw Association will conduct a Western themed re-enactment of the sheriff and his posse trying to tame the west and the bad guys. In full period costumes, they will perform throughout the day. The show is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face.

Also in attendance will be the Southeast Texas Air Rescue and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office who will have their helicopters on display. Area fire departments will bring their fire trucks too.

Ares law enforcement such as the Texas Department Public Safety and members of the the US Coast Guard will be at the picnic to ensure children emergency personnel are their friends and only want to help.

“This is a day where children and emergency personnel can bond,” said Orange County Deputy John Badeaux, organizer of the picnic. “This will help provide a great education to the kids.”