The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
RUNNING THE SHOW
Youth activities at Chardon KidsFest range from business to leisure
Chardon Square was lit up with color, music, laughter and the sound of little feet on Aug. 1 as youths of all ages took part in the 10th iteration of the Chardon KidsFest.
Across the square there were art activities, a youth-run flea market, a mini petting zoo, a tumbling course, games, food and sweets — everything from cotton candy to ice slushies.
“We usually get in the neighborhood of 600 kids that show up here,” Chardon Square Association Trustee Heather Means said during the morning of the event.
Throughout the afternoon, a DJ set up in the gazebo on the square to play music. A dunk tank next to the Heritage House gave kids the opportunity to toss a softball in an attempt to dunk their school teachers.
At 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, a boys versus girls
“It’s just one of those opportunities for people to run their own business. They’re responsible for everything.”
— Chardon Square Association Trustee Heather Means
game of tug-of-war and a pizza-eating contest were scheduled.
At one end of the square, tents and tables were set up with items for sale. Kids ages 15 and younger were able to run their own flea market business, selling to adults and children alike. One of the goals of the market was to help children learn the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship.
“It’s just one of those opportunities for people to run their own business,” Means said. “They’re responsible for everything.”
One of those businesses belonged to sixth-grader Johnny Malone, who attended KidsFest with his mother, Liz, and had a booth full of toys, clothing, books and more.
Johnny negotiated prices on various items and handled the money as visitors made purchases. He said that the toys were the most popular item being sold.
“I sold a lot of stuff, I’ve been selling,” he said. “And I gathered stuff too.”
Liz highlighted that they had only heard of the KidsFest flea market the night before. She and Johnny quickly gathered what they had to sell.
“He wants to study business this year at home,” Liz said, noting that she will be homeschooling Johnny this year. “He wants to learn about Amazon and selling things online. So, I thought doing this would be a good way to just throw him into it and see.”
Because none of the items had a set price, Johnny was required to negotiate for each one, based on each’s worth.
“What are you learning today?” Liz asked her son.
“About being an entrepreneur,” a patron answered, as she paid Johnny for her purchase.
The youth flea market was scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., partly overlapping with the rest of the KidsFest activities, which were scheduled until 3 p.m.
Vendors that attended KidsFest included ATA Martial Arts, which ran a booth where kids could learn how to break a board. There was also a tumbling course provided Emeth Gymnastics, where kids could run, tumble and swing.
Any of the money raised by the KidsFest will go into the Chardon Square Association’s scholarship fund, Means said.
“This was not an event that was designed to be a fundraising event,” she said.
KidsFest is also sponsored by the Chardon Square Association.