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15th Anniversary Celebration!
The Grand Kids Festival
Saturday, April 10, 2010
10am-5pm
Where can a family of four have a full day of fun for as little as five dollars? At the Grand Kids Festival on Saturday, April 10th in historic downtown Galveston – that’s where! Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, The Grand Kids Festival - a celebration of folk arts and families is hosted by The Grand 1894 Opera House and will be held from 10am-5pm on Postoffice Street, between 20th and 23rd streets, in historic downtown Galveston.
Merri Scheibe Edwards, the driving force behind the creation of the festival fifteen years ago, will serve as the Honorary Chair of the event this year. Edwards led a task force initiated by The Grand’s Board of Directors in 1996, which recommended an annual children’s festival be created to expand children’s activities in the arts throughout the Galveston area. Fifteen years later, the festival has become a favored annual event throughout the Gulf-coast area.
The festival will feature four entertainment areas, a story-telling tent, an artisans’ tent, and a host of activity booths “guaranteed to spark the imagination and creativity in kids of all ages.”
“Visual and performing arts can provide a great source of expression for children”, noted The Grand’s Festival Coordinator, Kathy Van Dewalli. “The Grand Kids Festival continues to offer an outlet for that expression through a wide variety of arts exploration; whether it’s participating in the festival through a performance, creating a craft at one of our many activity booths or by just observing and learning a traditional craft like wood turning or quilting.”
Advanced-price tickets are on sale now at The Grand’s box office and may be purchased by calling 800.821.1894, 409.765.1894.
Created as an extension to The Grand’s children’s programming The Grand Kids Festival is sponsored in part by Target, KUHF 88.7FM Radio, Kathrine G. McGovern, The Jamail Galveston Foundation, BP Texas City, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, the Permanent Endowment Fund of Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, Alice Taylor Gray Foundation, Frost, the Historic Downtown Strand Partnership, CenterPoint Energy, Moody National Bank, Galveston Island Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Galveston Foundation, Sand Dollar Galveston, Houston Family Magazine, Houston Baby Magazine, the Kids Directory, the Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston and Texas Commission on the Arts.
Festival founding sponsors include Mary Ainslie, The Gladys B. Foundation in honor of Robert Richard Thornton, Lawyer; the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, Bank of America, and the Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston.
In addition, support from many in-kind donors’ and hundreds of volunteers help to ensure the success of the festival.
The festival’s theme this year is “Galveston: A Gateway to Cultures and Traditions” and throughout the day, festival goers can look forward to family-friendly entertainment that spans a variety of ethnic cultures, unique booths with hands-on activities for children, as well as the opportunity to participate in children-oriented arts and crafts, arts demonstrations, an exotic animals petting zoo, creative fun with chalk art and the Bubble Pond. Be sure and come hungry as food booths will offer a variety of food selections. This year a new event has been added – The Krazy Kidz Relay, a health-promoting event to get kids up and moving!
As well, a special public art project planned for this 15th anniversary celebration will yield a moving sculpture created by area students and installed and dedicated at 21st and Postoffice Street during the festival.
An annual highlight of the festival each year is the production staged by Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT). This year’s show is Rumpelstiltskin, an original adaptation of the classic children’s story. A strange little gnome appears from here, there and everywhere. He will spin your straw into gold...for a price. If his price is too steep, you must guess his name... RUMPELSTILTSKIN! Area children are invited to audition to appear in this production. Auditions will take place on Monday, April 5, 2010 at The Grand at 4pm and performances are presented during the festival at 11am and 1pm in the theatre on The Grand’s stage as part of the festival.
Saturday festival admission is $3.00 for adults; $2.00 for children; free for children 4 years and younger. Half-price advance festival tickets (family four-pack for only $5.00) are available at The Grand’s box office. Admission to the festival includes entrance to the performances of Rumpelstiltskin. Participation in the Krazy Kidz Relay is an additional fee.
To purchase advance tickets, call The Grand’s box office at 409.765.1894 or 800.821.1894. Full-price tickets may be purchased at the festival gates. The Grand is located at 2020 Postoffice Street in historic downtown Galveston.
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SCHEDULED ENTERTAINMENT
Alpenfest German Band
Celtaire String Band
Dance of Asian America
Flying Balalaika Brothers
Lannaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble
Missoula Children’s Theatre - Rumpelstiltskin
Bits ‘N Pieces GIANT Puppet Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland
United Free Style Stunt Team
Shelley Kneupper Tucker - Spin Me a Yarn
The Raptor Project in partnership with FeatherFest
Tipi Tellers
Allynn Gooen’s - Goowins Balloowins
Annie Hickman of Bugs and Balloons
Harms’ Marionettes
Austin Middle School Choir
Austin Middle School String Mariachi
Ball High School Dancers
Ball High School Ballet Folklorico
Ball High School Percussion Trio
Bay Area Youth Symphony
Crosby Middle School Red Roses Dance Team
Diva Stars
Galveston Ballet
Galveston Home School Performing Arts Co-op
Infinity Dance
La Marque Elementary District Choir
Olympian Dancers
O’Maoileidigh Irish Dancers
Pasadena’s Morris Middle School Band
Pasadena’s Morris Middle School Choir
Pasadena’s Morris Middle School Orchestra
Rosenberg Elementary Choir
Royal Academy of Fine Arts - The Preludes
The Italian Tarantella Dancers
Weis Middle School Choir
All performances, events and booth activities are subject to change.
SCHEDULED ACTIVITY EVENTS
The Grand Kids Festival presents arts activities and fun for kids of all ages. Activities listed are as of posting date.
BSA Boy Scout Troop 123 – Get your very own water balloon yo-yo! Find out how you can join the adventure of Boy Scouts. Items for Sale.
Bubble Pond – The Grand 1894 Opera House invites you to blow bubbles on the wind. Free Activity.
Chalk Art – Create a sidewalk chalk art masterpiece. Free Activity.
Child Advocacy Center – Arts and crafts for all children to take part in! Free Activity.
The Children’s Center – Learn about health coverage with the CHIP program. Free Activity.
The Children’s Services Board of Galveston County – Color your very own picture and get some information for Mom and Dad too. Free Activity.
East End Preschool and Kindergarten – Fun-filled craft activities for pre-school and kindergarteners. Free Activity.
Face Painting – Let your face be our canvas! Happy Faces face painters (and temporary tattoo artists) will make your face a work of art! A portion of proceeds benefit The Grand Kids Festival.
First Aid Station – UTMB’s Emergency Services Department is on hand to handle any scrapes, cuts or boo-boo’s! Free Service.
Galveston Arts Center – Make a very special spin art painting with members of the Arts Center’s education staff. Free Activity.
Galveston Historical Foundation – Texas Seaport Museum – Come see how history can be fun! Learn to tie special nautical knots as seen on the tall ship Elissa! Free Activity.
Galveston Railroad Museum – Learn about the history of rail and take a ride aboard the mini Union Pacific train! Fee charged for train ride.
Giant Inflatable Slide – Slide down our giant inflatable slide! Presented by Laser Maze. Fee Charged. A portion of the proceeds benefits The Grand Kids Festival.
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto – Learn all about the Girl Scouts and join in scouting fun!
Green Mountain Energy Company – Find out how you can have “cleaner electricity today, bluer skies tomorrow!” Free Activity.
Harm’s Marionettes – String puppet performances; watch these delightful marionettes and learn how they are hand crafted. Check at Marionette stage for show schedule of variety acts. Free Activity.
Junior League of Galveston County, Inc. – Grab a healthy snack and learn about nutrition and exercise. Free Activity.
KIPP Coastal Village – Learn all about your local Knowledge is Power Program. Free activity.
KUHF 88.7 FM Radio – Create art with recycled CD’s. Free Activity.
Lutheran Music Academy – Learn about music classes for children: Choir, Keyboard, Guitar, and Violin. Free Activity.
Moody Gardens – Stop by and learn about the rainforests and oceans of the world. Spin the game wheel for trivia questions. Free Activity.
Moonwalk – Jumping fun for the younger set! Fee charged. A portion of proceeds benefit The Grand Kids Festival.
Petting Zoo – Zerebko’s Zoo Train Exotic Animals await you! Free activity. (Small fee charged for food if you wish to feed the animals)
Phabulous Phantoms of The Grand Gift Shop – The Phabulous Phantoms (volunteers) and The Board of Directors & Advisors of The Grand offer t-shirts, gift items and informational material on The Grand’s programming for children and families. Items for Sale.
Pony Rides – Saddle up for some pony ridin’ fun! Fee Charged.
The Rainforest Café – Visit with Cha Cha and friends from the Rainforest Café as they roam throughout the festival. Characters provided by The Rainforest Café. Free Activity.
Rock Wall Climbing Fun – Here’s your chance to see just how well you can climb! Fee Charged.
Rotary Club of Galveston – Learn about bicycle safety and pick up a free bike helmet! Free Activity.
Sand Box Fun – Dig in our sand box until your heart is content! Presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House. Free Activity.
The Sand Man – Create your own bottle of mystical colored sand. Other items are also available, including bracelets; spin top wheels, key chains, and other items. Items for Sale.
Scentsy – Scentsy provides an array of lovely wickless candles for your home. Items for Sale.
Sea Campus Kids – Texas A&M University at Galveston presents hands-on marine adventures. Free Activity.
SGM Creations – Sterling silver rings, necklaces, bracelets, and beaded necklaces for sale. Items for Sale.
Silverleaf Resorts – Spin the Silverleaf wheel for discount coupons to Silverleaf Resorts for the perfect family vacation! Free activity.
Trinity Episcopal School – The famous newspaper hats are back! Come get your one-of-a-kind headgear and learn about the quality education offered at Galveston’s Trinity Episcopal School. Free Activity.
UTMB HEALTHY FUN TENT
Join the University of Texas Medical Branch as they present Dr. Dolphin, the UTMB Student Caring Clown Troupe and many other fun activities from UTMB departments including the department of pediatrics and the UTMB Police with McGruff the Crime Dog. Free Activities.
UTMB Emergency Services First Aid Station – Emergency Services Nurses will be on hand to handle any scrapes, cuts or boo-boos! Free Service.
FOOD VENDORS
Fee charged for all food items.
The Grand Concession Booths, Creamy Cones Ice Cream, Little Miss Cupcake, Gomez Catering, Texas Best Snowballs and Tropical Island Desserts will offer a wide variety of festival food items.
Don’t forget to visit our downtown restaurants and shops throughout the festival site!
ARTISANS TENT
Clay Creations- Join artist Stephanie Thomas and sculpt your very own masterpiece! Free Activity.
Galveston Island Quilters Guild Quilting fun – create your own quilt project to take home. Free Activity.
Gulf Coast Wood Turners Club- Learn the craft of wood turning through demonstrations by the Gulf Coast Wood Turners Club. Free Activity.
TIPI TELLERS
Exciting storytelling sessions for all ages inside a giant tipi! Tipi Tellers utilize the power of story to develop strength of character, teach respect for all life, and promote inner, cultural harmony.
STORYTELLING TENT
Check the schedule at Storytelling Tent for event times. Free Activities.
Tom’s Fun Band – Join the musical fun! Learn about Tom’s fun guitar and even learn a song to sing with him! Check schedule at Storytelling Tent.
Shelly Kneupper Tucker – “Spin Me A Yarn” Be entertained and educated while Shelly promotes literacy, tolerance, and positive values through her powerful storytelling, all while spinning yarn on an old fashioned spinning wheel!
Goowin’s Balloowins! – Take part in an interactive balloon adventure with Allynn Gooen.
Annie Hickman of Bugs and Balloons – Fantastic bugs and butterflies created by amazing performance artist Annie Hickman. Watch for these special bugs and butterflies as they stroll through the festival grounds.
Bits N’ Pieces Giant Puppet Theatre – find out just how tall these handcrafted puppets are – and what it takes to perform in them!
Alpenfest – How hard do you have to blow to sound the Alpenhorn?
United Freestyle Stunt Team – Witness high energy stunts on bicycles! Don’t try this at home!
All performances, events and booth activities are subject to change.
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