Calling all superheroes - and their moms. GEARS will hold its annual Mother/Son Super Hero Bowling event on Saturday, March 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Clearview Lanes, 1990 W. Main St., Mount Joy. Preregistration is required and limited on a first-come, first served-basis. The registration deadline is Sunday, Feb. 26.

"This is a fun and unique event, and it's a really good opportunity for mothers and sons to bond," said Erin Thomas, GEARS administrative assistant. "Sometimes, mothers and sons get left out, since we do things like our Daddy/Daughter Dance. This is a way to include them."

Thomas noted that people come dressed up in a variety of superhero costumes. "We've had people who go all out and get their makeup done," she stated. "We have people who come in store-bought costumes, and we have people who come in homemade outfits."

The event will feature a variety of games and contests, including a costume contest with prizes. "We also have a prize train that runs a couple of times throughout the event and picks a random participant, and they are able to get a prize," Thomas commented.

GEARS began offering a bowling event for mothers and sons in 2016, but added the superhero theme two years ago, said Karen Eberly, senior program coordinator. "We have done other mother/son events, like a safari, and we tried mother/son roller-skating," she recalled. "Bowling seemed to generate the most interest, so we're sticking with that." In the past, GEARS also held a mother/son fall ball, a more formal event similar to its Daddy/Daughter Dance, but it hasn't been held since the pandemic began, although Eberly noted GEARS may bring it back at some point.

The mother/son bowling will feature unlimited games of bowling, along with pizza and drinks for participants. "We have a selfie booth we put up, and it's really cool to see all the pictures on Facebook after an event like this," Eberly said. "It's just a lot of fun."

There is a fee per mother/son couple for the event, with a discounted additional fee for additional sons. To register or for more information, visit http://www.getintogears.org or call 717-367-0355.