Kindergartners play at Rock Hill festival in preparation to enter school

Preparing to enter the classrooms with the big kids mid-August, hundreds of 5- and 6-year-olds romped around a children’s museum, sang silly songs with a musician and had their teeth examined on a bus.

They also climbed the stairs onto a big yellow school bus — some pretending to turn around and wave goodbye to their parents.

The kids, and a few weepy parents, gathered in downtown Rock Hill Thursday for the 13th annual Countdown to Kindergarten, an educational festival hosted by the York County Culture and Heritage Museum, York County First Steps and York County’s school districts.

Activities included free dental screenings aboard the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Future mobile, vision and hearing screenings, play time at the children’s museum, reading time aboard the York County Bookmobile, and entertainment by musician Roger Day at St. John’s United Methodist Church.

More than 30 community exhibitors greeted children at the free event, which is geared to help connect families with local agencies and help with a smooth transition into school.

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 9:42 PM with the headline "Kindergartners play at Rock Hill festival in preparation to enter school."