Dig into some fun at Bingham County Dirt Dayz this Saturday
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BLACKFOOT — Big equipment, a giant sandbox, trick-or-treating and food trucks will come together Saturday for an event that teaches families an important lesson while still having fun along the way.
The second annual Bingham County Dirt Dayz will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds in Blackfoot.
The free family event gives children and adults an opportunity to get an up-close look at heavy equipment while learning about underground utilities and the importance of digging safely.
The event is organized by the Bingham County Utility Coordinating Coalition, a local coalition that brings together representatives from utility companies, government agencies and others involved with underground utilities and excavation.
Participating organizations have included Idaho Power, Intermountain Gas, Bingham County, the City of Blackfoot, Blackfoot Irrigation Company and Digline.
Coalition Chairman Austin Stewart said the idea behind Dirt Dayz is to make learning about utility safety enjoyable for the entire family.
“As a coalition, we get together monthly to talk about upcoming projects. One of the things we always focus on is damage prevention,” he said. “So we came up with this idea to have a fun family event to educate the community about safety and the free service of calling 811.”
Before digging on their property, homeowners can call 811 or submit a request online to have underground utility lines marked for free. The service helps prevent damage to buried gas, electric, water and communication lines and reduces the risk of injury or service outages.
Dirt Dayz puts that safety message into a setting where families can learn together without it feeling like a lecture.
There will be plenty for kids to do, including a huge pile of sand filled with Tonka trucks and other toys where they can dig and play.
“The sand pile with the Tonka trucks is a big hit with the kids,” Stewart said.
The Blackfoot Fire Department will be at the event, along with a variety of construction equipment, giving children a chance to get an up-close look at the machinery used for construction and utility work.
With Halloween just a few weeks away, children are invited to come dressed in costume and trick-or-treat during the event.
Local food trucks will also be on hand for anyone who wants to grab lunch while enjoying the activities.
While this is just the second year of Dirt Dayz, organizers hope families will come out, enjoy a fall afternoon and leave knowing a little more about the utilities beneath their feet and the people and equipment that keep those systems running.
“We’re excited for what’s to come as this event continues to grow,” Stewart said.
