Photo Gallery: Hundreds Celebrate Groton City Day

Hundreds gathered at Washington Park Friday night to celebrate Groton City Day, an annual event with free music, face painting, a moonwalk, train ride, ball pit and laser tag for the kids.

"We come every year," said Stacy Collins, who brought her two children. "It's free, it's outside, it's fun stuff for the kids to do."

Her son, Carter, calls it "family fun night," she said.

Elsewhere in the park, Annaliisa Erickson, 18, painted childrens' faces.

"I've done spider-man twice, a lot of people like butterflies, and I've done a lot of Boston (Red Sox) and Yankees' symbols," she said.

Groton Utilities presented the annual Community Service Award at the event to Robert Austin LaFrance, a longtime volunteer.

LaFrance has volunteered for United Way for more than 10 years, and helped raise more than $50,000 through fundraising efforts for Hospice Southeastern Connecticut.

LaFrance has also contributed to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and Olympics for Junior Sailing, and runs the Opi Regatta at Ram Island Yacht Club in memory of his son, who died of an illness several years ago.

Courtney Moore, a volunteer who nominated him, said in a prepared statement, "His generosity is boundless, and his can-do attitude is ideal for any committee or board that he serves on."