Children's Events

Take a step back in time and explore “hands-on history” through music, stories, art and plenty of fun. More than a dozen magical activities await you, all designed to bring history to life. Learn how to walk onstilts, give hoop rolling a try, play a round of “Fox and Geese” or make your very own pinwheel. Plus, history comes to life through music, stories, drama and even magic, during the day’s full lineup of live entertainment on stage. All activities at the Children’s Arts Fair are designed to stimulate and nurture a life-long love of the arts. And what better place than Gettysburg, to explore adventures in history. Designed for children of all ages, from 1 to 101!

Day-long activities include:

• An American-themed mural painting project, “The De-Coloration of Inde-painting.”
• Colonial whirligig (pinwheel) projects to make and take.
• Paper dolls, merging an old-fashioned American toy with artistry: Children will learn about brushstrokes and color combinations by painting their paper dolls in historic Van Gogh-style.
• Activities such as hoop rolling, stilt walking, nine pins (bowling), tug of war, Graces (hoop tossing), spinning tops, trap ball (predecessor to baseball) or blind man’s bluff. Even toddlers can try “acorn tossing!”
• Early American board games such as Checkers, Fox and Geese or Nine Man Morris.

Festival Main Stage entertainment includes:

• 12 noon: “Hats Off to America,” a musical journey through history from “Yankee Doodle” to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and many more, by award-winning singer/songwriter Ray Owen.
• 1 pm: “America the Beautiful,” a patriotic mini-musical featuring a special tribute to members of the armed forces, both past and present, and presented by children of the Adams County School of Musical Theatre.
• 2 pm: Magic is in the air! Enjoy a dazzling and highly-interactive magic show presented by the ever-entertaining Marc Charisse.
• 3 pm: Historical folk tales come to life with story teller extraordinaire Ann Griffith.
• 4 pm: Traditional rollicking American folk music led by acclaimed performer Tom Jolin, mixing vocals with the hammer dulcimer, banjo, accordion, harmonica and plenty of instruments for the kids to try too.

Also available: A wide selection of classic American picnic fare by outstanding regional vendors with plenty of family-friendly choices.

Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawnchairs. Please note: the Festival Main Stage is shifting to a new,larger location on the Gettysburg College campus for 2012. It will be located on Memorial Field, behind the College Union Building, with free on-campus parking nearby at Stadium Lot. This more spacious location allows for better visibility of the stage, without trees in the line of sight; however portions of the day have the potential for direct sunlight so attendees are encouraged to wear hats and bring sunscreen as desired.