More than 400 attend Mother/Son Game Night at Osage Centre

Mothers and sons piled into the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau on Saturday for the parks and recreation department’s annual Mother/Son Game Night.

Everything from Nerf wars to arcade games and an inflatable obstacle course was up and running for moms and sons alike.

Board games were in one room, and pinball, table tennis, air hockey and foosball were set up outside the Nerf Wars room. Toddlers had their own room off to one side.

Relay races, dodgeball and kickball went on in the west court of the Osage Centre, next to the extreme bounce zone and bowling in the east court.

As of 6:35 p.m., 480 tickets had been sold, but recreation coordinator Cassie Dennis said she expected several more people to show up before ticket sales closed at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re already up by about 60 over last year,” Dennis said. “It keeps growing, too.”

Dennis said the event can get a bit crazy, but it’s a lot of fun.

The event itself didn’t have a theme per se, Dennis said, “but we try to keep it sports-oriented.”

She said they typically pick colors, and this year they went with blue and red.

Millie Dannenmueller said this was her and her son Benjamin’s first time attending the event.

“I’m looking forward to him burning off some energy,” she said, laughing. “It’ll be good to let him run to his heart’s content.”

Julie Casey and her son Ethan were attending for the fourth year, she said.

“We’re like veterans,” she said. “We look forward to this two months out!”

Casey said for her, this is the one time a year she gets to be not too old to be on an inflatable slide.

”We race,” she said. “It’s a good bonding experience.”

Ethan said his favorite part of the night is the food.

“You can’t argue with three tables of food, and all the junk food,” his mom agreed.

“We love this night,” she added. “We have a little bit of a hard time waiting in line, but it’s worth it.”

Every attraction and game had a line, but spirits were high.

Florence Johnson had brought her son Nathan from New Madrid, Missouri.

“This is our first time,” she said, adding she’d heard about the event through Facebook.

“I like seeing the kids mingle,” she said. “My son’s making friends and having fun. And I get to interact with other parents and kids.”

As to what her favorite part was, Johnson said, “I’d have to say all of it.”

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.