Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle Hundreds of families across the westside came out to Burroughs Park for an afternoon of fun on Aug. 5 for the 18th annual South Central Hilltop “Day Out” Festival. Sharing in the same mission as National Night Out, a nationwide program that connects residents with law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other health and safety partners in the community, the “Day Out” festival also featured appearances from local dance troupes, science enthusiasts at a famed industry center, and wild animals from the zoo who were not afraid to mingle with the curious and excitable crowd. Here, children get to meet Wahoo the African Penguin under the supervision of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wild Encounters team member Calvin McCammon.The Dublin Dance Centre and Gymnastics troupe strike a pose with members of the local community.Grillmaster Jim Boggs oversees the preparation of the hotdogs. Although the organizers had several hundred hotdogs on hand, they had to go out during the event and get more to feed the hungry masses.Ronald Johns Jr. asks Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper William Duerson about the capabilities of this BMW motorcycle.Cory Tunny, a volunteer with the Refuge Ministries, helps Todd Daugherty Jr. meet Maddie the Belgian draft horse with the Columbus Division of Police Mounted Unit. Her handler, Sgt. John Blubaugh, supervises from the saddle.Perrin Shepherd, an outreach educator with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), creates a cloud.Leo, a 13-year-old tortoise from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, chills out at Burroughs Park.Best friends Saige Foreman (second from left) and Egypt Woodward (second from right) gather for a photo with Columbus Division of Police officers R. Nolan (left) and D. Cole (right) after exploring the SWAT vehicle.Hanna Corwin, a Wild Encounters team member at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, poses with BJ the armadillo.
