Houston Children’s Festival in 26th year
This year, the Houston Children’s Festival is celebrating 26 years of providing a venue for a very special family outing.
During this year’s event, which will be held March 29-30 and benefits Child Advocates, more than 50,000 families, friends, volunteers and sponsor partners will gather together in beautiful downtown Houston to play, create, explore and learn.
The Houston Children’s Festival began 26 years ago as the Children for Children Festival and took place in an open field that is now Discovery Green. Attracting a crowd of less than 5,000 people the first year, the goal was to create a family festival that would serve as the vehicle to educate the public about child abuse and the mission of Child Advocates.
The entertainment at the Houston Children’s Festival over the years has ranged from Bozo the Clown and Ralph the Swimming Pig to Animal Planet superstar Jeff Corwin, to celebrity stars from Disney and Nickelodeon’s most popular television shows.
This year, the festival’s exciting lineup of fun includes two popular Disney celebrities — including actress Debby Ryan, star of Disney Channel’s hit show “Jessie.”
The event is divided into themed Family Adventure Zones, such as the Baker Hughes Circus Town, H-EB Healthy Kids Zone, Child Advocates Under the Sea Zone, McDonald’s Dream Discovery Zone, SABIC Super Science Zone, Nightlight Pediatrics Tot Spot, Texas Children’s Healthcare Zumba Stage, Green Mountain Energy Zone, TAM International Giant Lego Zone, and Kids R Kids Zone, among others.
Children also can meet Dora the Explorer, Sid the Science Kid and Brobee from “Yo Gabba Gabba.” There will be stages of music and entertainment and more than 300 exciting activities, music, crafts, exhibits, participatory games, sports and rides.
The event, presented by Baker Hughes, benefits Child Advocates and the abused and neglected Harris County children that it serves. In Harris County alone, 5,000 children languish in foster care because of life-threatening abuse and neglect.
“Child Advocates mobilizes court appointed volunteers to break the vicious cycle of child abuse in Harris County. They speak up for abused children who are lost in the system and guide them into safe environments where they can thrive,” said Lynn Alexander, director of marketing and advertising for Houston Children’s Festival. “The Houston Children’s Festival also creates public awareness of Child Advocates and its important mission.”
Visit online at www.houstonchildrensfestival.com.