KNIGHTDALE - Brandi Kyle who just moved to Knightdale from Anaheim, Ca. looks forward to events like Knightdale's Community Day because of activities the economy has robbed her family of.

"With the move and with things the way they are we haven't been able to take a vacation," said Kyle. "We try to do things like this. It's a good outing and it's free."

Kyle and her daughter Jayden, 5, and son Tristan, 4, watched the tumblers from the Little Gym who performed from the tennis courts, the central stage of the day.

Community Day, Knightdale's annual fall festival, was held Saturday in Harper Park where crowds took advantage of clear weather for rides, entertainment and food.

Kyle also said Community Day helped her know Knightdale a little bit better.

She said she liked the fact that a number of businesses were advertising their services from booths set up by the concessions.

"We love events where there's tons of kids," said Nadine Stewart, the owner of the Little Gym off Knightdale Boulevard. Stewart was giving out balloons to passersby.

"It's just a great event event for the community too," said Stewart.

Next door at the cotton candy booth, two-year-old Carmen Calhoun, 2, had her first taste.

"It's not that often that you see cotton candy," said her mother, Debi Calhoun of Knightdale.

For Emily and Jason Cleverly of Heddingham in Raleigh, Knightdale's Community Day was an easy sell too.

The family picked the event again this year to celebrate their daughter Madeline's fifth birthday with a party. The 30 party-goers had cake under the picnic shelter, then took advantage of putt putt, inflatables, Harper Park, the Whirlybird, an exotic animal petting zoo and the pony rides at Community Day.

"We'll probably do it again next year," said Emily.

"It's a lot of fun," said Mark Allen, who attended the Cleverly party with his son Isaac, 3, and daughter, Ezra, 16 months. "My kids really like the animals. I think that was their favorite part - especially the wallaby.

Up the hill under another shelter, the exotic animals from Noah's Landing were introduced to the children. Noah's Landing is a nonprofit educational organization from Coats.

Jack Dowless, 9, of Raleigh, was learning about the kinkajou from Noah's Landing representative Beth Klinefelter.

"I think it's pretty cool because we've got bees and they pollinate the flowers. I never knew the kinkajou pollinated flowers. I thought only insects did that," said Dowless, an animal lover who has a cockatoo and 12 fish at home.

Chelsea Sumner, 16, and her brother Brian Sumner, 15, were looking for their brother Alex for his turn playing Smokey the Bear. Both had their shot as the character.

"Parks and Recreation was a big part of my life growing up so it was a good way to give back," said Chelsea Sumner, who serves on the youth member of Knightdale's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Cheryl Faison, the department's recreation center director, said getting youth involved is just one of her organization's goals. She said Community Day is planned every year as a way for the Parks and Recreation Department to give back to the community.

2010 Census government chair James Roberson, Wake County Planner Brian Coates and Knightdale Planner Jennifer Currin were also giving back.

The three were hawking the Census, trying to beat Knightdale's 68 percent participation rate from last year. The three were telling people that it's important to fill out Census forms so Knightdale and the county will get their share of federal dollars for programs that benefit the community.

Irene Keels, of Knightdale, said the community spirit and a good time attracted her and her husband, Willie Keels, to bring their granddaughter Knaya Keels to Community Day.

"She was visiting us this weekend," said Keels. "It's a very nice community activity. It really is."