FARMINGTON – The annual festival in celebration of children drew many families to come in from the cold today, with as many as 1,500 expected before the day is out.
For the 28th year, the Franklin County Children’s Task Force is hosting the annual Children’s Festival at the University of Maine at Farmington’s Olsen Student Center from 11 to 3 p.m. The festival features a day of fun and entertainment for families, largely at no cost to attendees.
While the North Dining Hall was filled with tables offering hands-on activities, along with members from local emergency crews such as the fire department and NorthStar EMS, the south dining hall was all about entertainment and lots of movement. Quick arts and craft projects proved popular, as did fun lessons on good nutrition and lots of physical activities, including a Wei, while live music entertained toddler through preteen children. A low-cost food court kept the kids fueled and ready for more.
Renee Blanchet, executive director of the task force, said new this year is that 3,000 books from Scholastic were donated so all of the children attending the festival can go home with a free, good read. Other newcomers to the festival were the couch banana and Mr. Haley, a children’s entertainer.
As with years past, scores of organizations and volunteers make it all work.
