From dance to serving as young Marines, the Red Ribbon Awareness Day Open House at John W. Decas Elementary School demonstrated all the ways children could spend their time instead of doing drugs.

“I had the idea of an open house-style event showcasing everything our community and surrounding communities had to offer our children so that they can stay on the straight and narrow,” said Deanna Semple, organizer of the event.

From 5 to 8 p.m., representatives from community organizations manned booths in support of the Red Ribbon campaign. The campaign began in 1985 when parents and children began wearing red ribbons to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs.

The theme of the open house was “We've got better things to do than drugs.”

Some of the “better things” included gymnastics, set up in the basketball court. Dancers from Kaleidoscope put on a performance in the cafeteria while dozens of children and their parents enjoyed pizza, courtesy of the Plymouth County's District Attorney’s office and school superintendent.

“I’m really happy with the turn out,” said Semple.