Something for all at TV2 KidsFest

Henry Sunderland of the TV2 KidsFest Charitable Trust has come up with another great idea to get kids creating art with their recycling. Creative Bugs will be a school art project where kids transform all-natural recycled plant waste (eg: leaves, twigs, nuts etc) into fantastic insect creatures! Colourful and crazy creations will be guaranteed and all works will be on show during the festival at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Conservatory.

Crowd favourite in 2002, the Ticklish Allsorts return from Australia with their special brand of humour, music, song and dance. In the last four years Ticklish Allsorts have performed all over Australia and New Zealand as well as in Europe. Their interactive style incorporates strong visuals and fantasy characters such as Radish The Pantomime Horse, who was a huge hit with local audiences two years ago. Ticklish Allsorts member David Bailiht says their semi educational style is popular with parents and children alike.

“We like to celebrate childhood as a special time in everyone’s life by bringing music, joy and laughter to our audience,” he says.

Ticklish Allsorts will be taking their unique performance around local communities between 11 and 13 July.

The Press Kidsbuskers will see talented local performers under the age of 12 performing in the City Mall between 5 – 9 July and on the same days, The Press Airtime will tour local community parks.

The Press Airtime is a celebration and experience of everything to do with air. Children will have the chance to make their own kites, play with bubbles, have a go at balloon sculpture, and enjoy bouncy castle rides.

The littlies will certainly sleep on the night of Saturday 10 July — that’s if they’ve attended the All Day Par ty, which promises 12 hours of non-stop entertainment.

Five hundred kids will be transported all over Christchurch to enjoy a range of activities, which may include games, movies, swimming, prizes and a disco.

On 12 July, Cathedral Square comes alive to the Kids Market. An annual favourite, this event sees the Square filled with hundreds of stalls and children get the chance to sell their homemade goods, toys and clothes they have gone out of.

At the same location, The Press Kids’ Aren’t Square closes the festival on 16 July with a free music and dance concert, joined by pavement art – a great opportunity for children to bring colour to the inner city in mid-winter. One lucky person will win the trip to Auckland for themselves and their family. Every ticket purchased through Ticketek for a TV2 KidsFest event goes into the draw and the winner will be announced at The Press Kid’s Aren’t Square.

Following the concer t will be a special performance by the Ronald McDonald™ Fun and Magic Show. All the kids’ favourite McDonalds characters will be there, including Ronald McDonald™, Hamburglar™, Birdie™ and Grimace™. The ever-popular show will include magic, laughter, music and dancing.

Christchurch City Council produces TV2 KidsFest, with the support of The Community Trust and in association with The Press and Rick Armstrong Motors. Information about the festival can be found in the brochure or on the website www.kidsfest.co.nz from around 3 June or by calling 941 6840 during office hours.