Written by Sean Berigan
On August 7th, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, the Dads of Castle Rock hosted their second annual lemonade stand take-over. Dozens of dads met at Parrish Park at 12:30pm and were assigned one of two predetermined routes to ensure no stand was missed to visit 30 lemonade stands with 60 to 70 kids in the community selling lemonade and other treats.
From the moment the kids saw the convoy of vehicles approaching their lemonade stands, you knew they were well prepared. As they went over their sales lines in their minds and straightened up their stands, there was no doubt that these kids meant business, and they all nailed it!
Presentation was on point. From the well-designed banners and cool menu’s, the selection was awesome. Strawberry lemonade, watermelon lemonade, sparkling lemonade, sugar free lemonade, and even Jell-O shots (for the adults!) The young entrepreneurs even sold baked goods ranging from cookies, brownies, blueberry lemon bars, and even a stand with hot dogs with all the fixings, including chili! This was one of my favorite stops!
For me, this was a great opportunity to see my community get together and do something special. It’s something I’ve never done in any other neighborhood I’ve ever lived in. To be a part of this was such an awesome and moving experience. Seeing my son Jase greet all of his new neighbors and hesitantly hand over his money for lemonade was what sealed the deal! I knew this was more than just lemonade and snacks. It was a great time for families to meet and interact with each other, and it was a valuable experience for these kids. And Jase can’t wait to do it again! Possibly open a stand of his own next time.
As a father who recently moved to Castle Rock a little over 4 months ago, this trip around town brought me to neighborhoods that I hadn’t previously been and having the opportunity to meet all the parents was an incredible way for me to meet other parents in the group and community. Knowing we have a common interest in our children’s future reinforces our decision to live and raise our children in Castle Rock.
