02 June 2000

TV2 KidsFest Returns With 146 Events!

Booking office opens June 17th

This July, TV2 KidsFest, returns for the ninth year. From July 1^stto 14^th over 145 events for children aged 0 to 12 will be staged all over Christchurch. 46 of them are free!

Since it began in 1992, KidsFest has been enthusiastically embraced by Christchurch children and attracted many families from other parts of the country. In 1999 KidsFest involved 50,000 participants. Over 90 local community organisations and businesses take part in the festival by co-ordinating events for children to attend. The huge range of activities on offer includes art and craft workshops, sports, plays, cultural activities, concerts and ‘behind the scenes’ tours at places such as the Meadow Fresh milk factory and the Christchurch Cathedral.

This year KidsFest will attempt to break the world Pavement Art record currently held by Pennsylvania USA. On Tuesday July 4^th (if wet Wednesday 5 July) Christchurch children will enjoy a variety of entertainment as they try to ‘chalk up’ a new record with the help of MC Jason Gunn and special guests. Children will be encouraged to draw a picture of themselves, their family, friends or favorite animal and then to contribute to help fill in the outlined areas.

Face painting and children’s rides will be available for a small charge. Parents and guardians are welcome to join in the fun and help break the world record. Registrations will be made on site, on the day, and children are encouraged to wear warm clothing. KidsFest info line will have cancellation details ph 327 2877

Visiting US theatre group The Pickwick Players will present The Hundred Dresses, a play based on the Newberry Award winning book by Eleanor Estes. It is the tale of Wanda Petronski and the secret behind her one hundred dresses; and offers lessons on giving, acceptance and forgiveness. The Pickwick Players – a teen performance troupe - were established in 1968 as part of the Midland Community Theatre, in Midland Texas.

A new addition to the TV2 Kidsfest event line up this year are the martial arts programmes.

This year the sports, games, and adventure section will include judo, aikido, karate and seido karate. Children will be encouraged to have ago, pick up the basic moves, and get to grips with coordination and body awareness.

New events presented by the Christchurch City Council include a walk through the Travis Wetlands on Thursday July 13 and Junior Park Rangers will introduce kids to Christchurch’s natural playgrounds at several locations around the city. The Big Bus Bash on July 7 will take a lucky bus-load of kids around Cowles Stadium, Pioneer Leisure Centre, Thompsons Park and QEII complex.

KidsFest is co-ordinated by the Christchurch City Council’s events team who administer and publicise the festival, as well as co-orodinating some of its feature events. Programmes will be distributed to schools, playcentres and libraries throughout Christchurch over June 6 and 7. It’s hoped that every child up to the age of 12 will get their own copy to read and choose what they’d like to do. Bookings open on Saturday 17 June.

For more information about TV2 KidsFest please call:

Gillian Galbraith,
Events Coordinator,
9418 255 or 025 865 558