The West Liberty Children's Festival, sponsored by Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, is back!
The 24th annual festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m.. to 3 p.m. on Third Street in downtown West Liberty with a schedule chock full of performances, crafts, and activities, officials announced this week. Following the Children’s Festival, Latinos Unidos takes over the street with Fiesta Latina, featuring lively music from 3-10 p.m.
This year’s festival will include a puppetry mini-festival, featuring performances by Corcoran Puppets from Wisconsin; Jeanie Puppets from St. Louis; Ginger Lozar’s Puppets from Champaign, Illinois; Seth Eberle from Minneapolis; and, of course, the local Eulenspiegel Puppets, with shows by director Monica Leo and Stephanie Valez, both West Liberty residents..
This year’s strolling performers include puppeteer Brett DeBruyn, giant puppets by Brant Bollman of Oskaloosa, musicians Kalimbaman and the Yahoo Drummers, as well as Toto Johnson, a balloon twister artist.
A special feature of the festival this year will be the creation of 15 bubble stations featuring bubble wands from all over the world.
Another special feature will be the mask-decorating station. Youths may decorate washable, reusable masks, then have the face painter, Linda Kelty, decorate the top half of their faces to match! Kids will be expected to wear the masks in Ron-de-Voo Park to keep everyone safe in the small space, officials point out.
The festival also offers food, beverages, a Mexican market, a running miniature train that will provide rides for youngsters, a performance by the West Liberty High School Mariachi band, and a host of children's games and activities. Performances will take place in West Liberty’s lovely downtown gathering place, Ron-de-Voo Park.
Street activities will feature a large roster of games and make-and-take crafts, including the bubble stations, a giant sand box, face painting, easel painting, puppet making, and many crafts and activities.
To keep hunger at bay, attendees can feast on Mexican delicacies, popcorn, Mexican ice cream bars (paletas) and other goodies. Chinese, American, and Mexican restaurants on the street will also be open for business in the neighborhood.
The West Liberty Children’s Festival is supported by the Ryan Trust and many generous local donors including Yolanda’s Salon, as well as residents Bill and Jan Koellner and Tom and Mary Pat Brooke. It is sponsored by Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company.
For further information about the Festival, call 627-2487 or e-mail
Watch for further updates on the free festival in upcoming issues of the Index.