Austin Macias was one of hundreds of kids who came out to the Mesquite Recreation Center’s west field Thursday night to kickoff summer vacation at the Summer Blowout, sponsored by Fu3go Entertainment and the Daysprings Ranch Youth Center. Photo by Stephanie Clark.

Several hundred families packed the West Field at the Mesquite Recreation Center on June 15 to celebrate the kickoff of summer break for the local children.

Austin Leavitt and his brother, Terran, who is a Mesquite Fire Rescue Firefighter stand with officer Brad Swanson, preparing the barbecue Thursday night at the first annual Summer Blowout. Photo by Stephanie Clark.

In addition to the free hamburgers and hotdogs, children enjoyed music, a dunk tank, and water-filled bouncy houses to keep them cool before the temperatures spiked over the weekend.

There was also free cotton candy as well as a photo booth provided by a company from Las Vegas.

“We wanted to do something good for the community,” said organizer Jr Flores with Fu3go Entertainment, who co-sponsored the event with the DaySprings Ranch Youth Center. “We’re happy to see the turnout and hope to build on it for next year.”

According to organizers, over 500 hamburgers and hotdogs served Thursday night at the first annual Summer Blowout. The line for the food stayed decent up until the event ended at 9 p.m. Photo by Stephanie Clark.

The event was more of a community effort, however, with supplies and products being donated by 19 different businesses within the community. Many of them donated certificates that were given away as free raffle prizes to the youth, who were each given one free raffle ticket.