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The 19th annual Marshfield Children’s Festival will target the imaginations of children with the theme “When I Grow Up, I Want to Be A…..” The Children’s Festival takes place on Saturday, April 13 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Marshfield High School. Vendors and volunteers plan to carry out the career theme in their clothing and displays. Children can dress to reflect their career choices. Admission is $2.00 for anyone age 1 year through 100.
Marshfield Children’s Hospital is providing 500 stuffed bears for their Teddy Bear Clinic. Their goal is to help children learn about a medical examination in a non-threatening environment. The stuffed toys will get a pretend checkup so children will know what happens when they go to a doctor. “The teddy bears are gone within a couple of hours, so we encourage children to bring their own stuffed toys for the clinic,” says Jane Wagner, a festival volunteer.
A very popular activity takes place in the Boson Company Fieldhouse and is sponsored by members of the Home Professionals of Central Wisconsin, Inc. Volunteers are returning this year to help children wield hammers and nails to construct a toy of their choice.
“Members of the group spend hours cutting out the components for several types of projects and on the day of the festival they help the children and parents put the toys together,” notes Jennifer Fredrick, School District of Marshfield Career and Technical Education Coordinator. “The kids are so proud of their projects,” she adds.
Past toys have included wagons, doll beds, airplanes, trucks, and bird houses. The projects are provided at no extra charge with all materials being donated by the Home Professionals of Central Wisconsin, Inc.
Healthy Lifestyles – Marshfield Area Coalition is sponsoring a bike rodeo. Kids in grades K-6 can bring their bikes and helmets for a safety inspection. Each inspection will include checking the helmet, bike tires, brakes, chain, and frame to ensure everything is working properly. Safety rules of the road will be reviewed after which children can ride their bikes through a mini bike course and apply the rules they learned. Educational materials on bike safety and the benefits of biking will also be provided.
Barney the Bus will visit the festival and the climbing wall will be available to children who want to hone their climbing skills. Over 50 venders will staff booths as they showcase materials and information related to children and families.
The MHS Careers with Kids students and their instructor, Rae Ann Leonhardt, have planned games and activities and invite all children to participate. Carla MacArthur and students in Family and Consumer Science classes will host a food stand emphasizing healthy eating. “Families can plan to spend the entire time at the festival. They can play, have lunch, watch performances of their choice, and play some more,” says MacArthur.
Performances in the commons area throughout the festival will include PIER, Making Music Together, Reis’ Martial Arts Academy, Universal Dance Academy, and Main Street Conservatory of Dance.
The Children’s Festival supports the Marshfield Human Services Academy, a program of Marshfield High School located within the Tiny Tiger Intergenerational Center. Students share space with the Tiny Tiger Child Care Centers of Marshfield and Companion Day Services.
The mission of the Academy is to promote a lasting bond between generations by educating young people in an innovative intergenerational learning environment. Academy students learn about lifespan development, the needs of people at various life stages, and about careers in human services and community agencies. They interact with children in the child care center and elders in Companion Day Services. The unique curriculum allows students to confirm their interest in human service professions.
Business sponsors, who are recognized at the Children’s Festival, help fund the expenses associated with the festival so that all the money raised benefits the Human Services Academy. “We are so appreciative of the support of all our sponsors,” says Fredrick.
If you have questions or would like to get involved with the Children’s Festival, please contact Jennifer Fredrick at [email protected].
