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Fun for Families . . . and It’s Free!

Children’s Council Hosts Annual Children’s Fair Saturday

Story by Kathleen McFadden

When an annual event makes it into double-digit longevity territory, you know it’s a good one. And so it is with the Watauga County Children’s Council’s Children’s Fair. This weekend, the fair is celebrating its 17th birthday!

The event takes place at Hardin Park School in Boone on Saturday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.—rain or shine. If the weather’s good, all the activities will be held outside; if the weather’s bad, the fun will move indoors.

A day out with the kids often puts a major strain on parents’ budgets, but not this one. Everything—thanks to lots of generous organizations and businesses—is absolutely free. The only monetary request the Children’s Council makes—and it’s voluntary—is that families who can afford to make a donation for the food and drinks drop a few dollars into the jar.

“The goal of the fair is that there’s something for kids—fun activities—and info for parents about what services are available for children in Watauga County,” according to Children’s Council Executive Director Jennifer Wilson-Kearse.

And judging from the lineup, this year’s fair will more than meet that objective, with lots of hands-on activities for the little ones, exciting performances and info stations for parents.

This year, because the fair is being held on May 5, the Children’s Council is weaving a Cinco de Mayo theme throughout the events, with delicious homemade tamales to taste and piñatas to burst. Piñatas for the smaller children have ribbons to pull that release the prizes, while the piñatas for older kids are the traditional—and oh-so-satisfying—hit-‘em-with-a-stick kind.

Instead of candy, the piñatas will be packed with fun surprises, such as goofy straws, tiny watercolor paint sets, kaleidoscopes, strands of beads, bottles of bubbles, tiny pens, pencils, erasers in fun shapes, brightly colored rings and iridescent lizards. Oh, and toothbrushes too. But they’re in cool colors.

The Mast General Store has donated 200 child-size T-shirts, and the first 200 children who head to the T-shirt table will be able to design their own T-shirts with bright paint markers.

But that’s only part of the fun. Other activities include make-and-take maracas, baby doll and car washing stations (big faves in past years), exploding volcanos, cactus ring toss, bubble art, face painting, Hispanic paper flowers, popsicle stick weaving, pounding board, play goop, water play and more.

And don’t miss the Teddy Bear Clinic. Staff at the health department collect teddy bears all year in anticipation of the Children’s Fair and use them to explain “boo-boos” and other health-related issues to the kids.

Along with the hands-on fun, families can enjoy a Capoeira presentation from Capoeira Arte Antiga at 10:30 a.m., Hobey Ford’s incredible and crowd-pleasing Golden Rod Puppets at 11:00 a.m. and the High Country Cloggers at 1:00 p.m.

Oh, and there’s more. The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office is bringing the DARE car, the Boone Fire Department is bringing the Smoke House and Watauga County Schools is bringing Buster the Bus. Kids love Buster because he can talk. Oh, and don’t forget Myrtle the Turtle, the mobile learning center.

A big services for parents is the car and booster seat safety checks provided by the Healthy Carolinians Safe Kids Coalition. The rules about kids and booster seats have changed, and some parents aren’t quite sure what they’re supposed to do. The folks with Healthy Carolinians know and are eager to share the safety info.

The Boone Service League will be on hand to update parents on the renovation of the Boone Tot Lot.

The Children’s Fair wouldn’t be possible without generous donations from local businesses and organizations, as well as the participation of loads of preschools and children’s organizations.

Donors include Mast General Store (T-shirts), Mellow Mushroom (pizzas), Wendy’s (chili, napkins, cups and toys!), Domino’s (pizzas), Coca-Cola (water and cups) and Kappa Delta Sorority ($$ from their pancake supper).

Activities presenters include the Children’s Council, Parents as Teachers, Watauga County Schools Pre-K, Two Rivers Community School, The Children’s Playhouse, Watauga County Library Teen Advisory Board, Mountain Pathways, Appalachian District Health Department, Parent-to-Parent Support Network, Watauga County Head Starts, Watauga County 4-H, Sugar Grove Developmental Day School, Greenway Baptist CDC, Rainbow Preschool 1, MerryLand Academy and First Learning Center.

“It’s just a really, really fun time to come out and visit with other families and get some great information about activities for children,” said Children’s Council Family Community Coordinator Tracey Tardiff.

For more info, call the Children’s Council at 828-262-5424. Better yet, just head to Hardin Park on Saturday morning with the kiddies—and be sure to bring your camera!

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, May 5
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hardin Park School, Boone
Cost: Free