Kids Zone to entertain young festival goers

Archive for Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Signal Staff Reports

October 15, 2003

The craft booths at the Maple Leaf Festival might not appeal to everyone, especially the younger-aged festival goers.

But there's no need to worry about finding something to interest the children. Kids Zone will once again be located in the parking lot behind the Baldwin First United Methodist Church at Eighth and Grove streets.

"It's fun for the kids," Donna Curran, Kids Zone committee member, said. "It's more kid-oriented and they can do something more for their own age."

Curran said the annual children's activity area, which will be open throughout the Maple Leaf Festival, will feature the familiar air-filled obstacle course and pony rides as in years past. There are small fees for both activities. The free petting zoo will also be returning after a hiatus.

New this year at the Kids Zone will be a free craft area. Curran said children will be able to make a number of crafts including sand art, zoo animal masks and dragon tear magnets. Crafts will be going on from noon to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Also new to the Kids Zone will be the storytelling tent. Baldwin resident Becky McMillen will be sharing stories throughout the day both on Saturday and Sunday.

Curran encourage families to stop by the Kids Zone.

"It's fun to do," she said.

As always, however, the Kids Zone is not a place to drop children off and leave. It is not a child care center, according to the Maple Leaf Festival organizers.