LAPLACE – Children tried their hands at basketball and the ring toss, slurped on bright-colored snowballs, hoola-hooped against one another and collected various prizes ranging from Mickey Mouse ears to large plush toys.

Their parents waited eagerly for the drawing announcements, in hopes they would be one of the grand prize winners.

Children and their parents turned out Saturday in the Riverlands Shopping Center, despite the threat of rain, for Time Warner Cable Family Day. Celebrating the addition of the Disney Channel, Court Television and Womens Entertainment to the full cable service, cable company employees manned several areas that catered to kids.

Some of the events included a coloring contest, costume contest, fingerprinting done by St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriffs Office personnel, a canine show, face painting, games and a visit from the LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department and their two dalmatians.

“Its just to do something for our subscribers, for the kids,” said Michelle Pellegrin, Time Warner area marketing manager. “Everybody is going to leave with something.”

Pellegrin added there was plenty for kids and their parents to take home. After making one basket in the kiddie basketball hoop, a child would get a ticket he could exchange for a prize. There were also free posters and key chains people could take home.

The event was held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. with an arrival of Sheriff Wayne L. Jones at noon to announce the winners of the prize drawings. Some of the giveaways included a childs 16-inch bike with training wheels, a Gameboy console and three games, a digital camera and a 32-inch Mickey Mouse plush toy.

The St. John Parish Library Childrens Librarian, Margaret Carlson, held a story-time for the younger children, who gathered around the story-teller with enthusiasm.

Children also enjoyed taking turns walking the dalmatians. Later, they participated in a contest to guess the number of spots on one of the dogs, which surely reminded them of a favorite Disney movie.

Other children dressed as their favorite Disney characters, and a Minnie Mouse or two was spotted adding mouse whiskers to her cheeks at the face painting station.

“Were celebrating the three new channels, and we just wanted to have a family day,” said Pellegrin.