Proud mother Lynette Kelley sported her “Eastern Mom” T-shirt as she accompanied her daughter, Khayla around the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union while Khayla’s younger brother made various crafts that were offered at Family Funfest.

“This year, there (is) more for kids to do,” Lynette Kelley said. “It’s more family-oriented.”

Family Funfest was offered as a part of Family Weekend, with activities such as creation stations, a “Glow-in-the-Dark-Arcade,” a comedian, an impressionist and a musician.

Kids’ activities included sand art, pumpkin painting and stuffed animal kits. Activities for all ages included customized license plates, a funny money booth, and airbrush T-shirts.

Khayla Kelley, a junior family and consumer sciences major from the Chicagoland area, had her mother, grandmother and two brothers come to visit her as part of Eastern’s Family Weekend.

Many families came from all over the state to visit their Eastern student.

Pam Willis came from Brookfield to visit her daughter Katie, a junior psychology major. Pam Willis has not been back to visit her daughter since July, when Katie moved into her apartment.

“It’s an excuse to get my mom down here, ” Katie Willis said of Family Weekend. “We’re like friends.”

The two were sitting at one of the many craft tables offered at the Funfest, constructing a foam crown that was shaped like a lobster.

Other families commented on the amount of activities offered this year compared to last year. Some felt that there were more things to do for adults and older kids last year. Others felt that the activities geared toward a younger audience helped Family Weekend be more family-friendly.

“(This year) is OK,” Stephanie Daniels said. “We had more time last year, and there were more activities.”

Stephanie Daniels was with her whole family visiting her son, Christian Daniels, a sophomore biological sciences major, for the weekend.

Stephanie Daniels and her family had planned to participate in activities happening at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in Lerna, but because of a mix-up, the family was not able to go.

“We were bummed,” Daniels said. “But we ended up walking around downtown.”

In addition to time mix-ups, the official schedule online also stated that the Funfest was to take place on Sept. 25 instead of Saturday Sept. 24.

Claire Boarman, a junior middle level education major, had attended the football game, tailgating event and bingo earlier that Saturday with her mother Tina and boyfriend Alex Wallace, who came down to visit from Springfield.

“(This weekend) was a lot of fun,” Claire Boarman said. “It was really hot, but still a lot of fun.”

Karissa Light, a graduate student, and Kelly Aguilar, a freshman biological sciences major, were working the concession tables scooping ice cream.

“It’s really great seeing a lot of the diversity within all the families,” Aguilar said. “The community shows how community-based Eastern is.”

Light said the smile on children’s faces as she served them was adorable.

Adam Sandoval, a senior middle level education major, volunteered at one of the craft tables as a part of Latino American Students Organization.

He helped families create animal-themed foam crowns.

“I really enjoy things like this, and I really enjoy being able to work with children and families,” Sandoval said. “(This) gives me more of a reason to be more excited about what I want to do after I graduate.”

Angelica Cataldo can be reached at 581-2812 or amcataldo@eiu.edu.