The Storytelling Guild is excited to present the 50th-Annual Children’s Festival! This fun and historic event will be held July 9-11, 2016 at the beautiful Britt Gardens in Jacksonville. For many years, the festival has provided fun-filled summer days of affordable entertainment for the entire family. The theme this year is, “Fairy Tales across the Ages” and will celebrate the rich history and magic that this festival has brought to the Rogue Valley for generations.
The first Children’s Festival was in 1967 and began as a small storytelling program, billed as: “A Child’s Fun ‘N Fantasy Afternoon” and was held under the trees at Britt Gardens in Jacksonville. The turnout for this one-day event was so tremendous, 200 children, that it was repeated the next day for another 300 children!
It was apparent that this was an important program and plans were readied for a true Festival in 1968. The Storytelling Guild and the Jackson County Library began planning by recruiting volunteers from the mothers who attended the first Festival. Sixteen volunteers and the local chapter of the American Association of University Women planned for that second year.
The second festival drew 2,000 children. The third, 4,000 and by 1981, the Children’s Festival was attracting 15,000 visitors!
At this year’s festival, children and adults will enjoy over 35 booths with hands-on arts, crafts and science projects. All activities are included with the price of admission! Older children will enjoy activities such as: candle making, pottery and wood working, while younger children will have a chance to make their own puppet, sand and easel art, and have their faces painted. In addition to our fun hands-on projects, you can sit back and enjoy storytelling, child-focused entertainment and stage performances.
Admission is $3 per person per day for adults and children. Food is available for purchase inside the festival at our yummy Dragon Deli. Our goal has always been to offer an amazing day of entertainment and education for a reasonable cost!
For more information, LIKE us on Facebook/storytellingguild or visit www.storytellingguild.org/childrens-festival.html.
2016 Children’s Festival:
Saturday, July 9th, 4:30- 8:30pm
Sunday, July 10th, 4:30-8:30pm
Monday, July 11, 9:30am-1:30pm