When and Where?

August Bank Holiday Weekend 2008

Sunday & Monday
24 & 25 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at Oldbury Wells School, Bridgnorth

Please remember the Children's Festival does not offer crèche or other childminding facilities. It's a FAMILY EVENT with loads of activities for families to explore together

Want to see some photos or a slide presentation? GO>>>

A list of contributors is on our links page

Bridgnorth Town Council

2006 was great - 2007 was even bigger and better - AND WE'RE REALLY PUSHING THE BOAT OUT FOR 2008!!

Plans for our 3rd Children's Festival are progressing and although we still have some activities to confirm we're almost there now
We will have the same mix of sports, arts, entertainment, community and fun activities as previously but with new and exciting things for you to enjoy. You can see a site plan of the Festival layout by clicking here: GO>>>.
However if you missed the last 2 Festivals have a look at the information click on the link in the left hand column to see what it's all about and why so many enjoyed them.

Entertainment Zone

Get ready to be entertained! The following are already signed up (click on the red letters to take you to performers' websites)

Bridgnorth's own Disco Daddy will be our MC for the Festival and strutting his stuff with a high octane mixture of energy and enthusiasm
Stiltwalkers and circus skills entertainment from Harley Entertainments
Audio and PA equipment will again be provided by Sonic Boom Audio from Bridgnorth
Storytelling from Snail Tales
A Touch of Magic will enthrall you with their illusions and balloon modelling and comedy will be provided by PJ the Showman
The Animal Man will have his mobile zoo
Dance performances from Jodie Leigh School of Dance and the spectacular skills of Bridgnorth Tigers Cheerleaders plus music from Bridgnorth Area Youth Orchestra as well as bands who appeared at the Bridgnorth Youth Festival event earlier in the year
Desert Rhythms will be performing Rajasthani Marionette shows on Sunday and Fair Trade themed Mask Making too
Punch & Judy Shows

FUN & LEISURE ZONE

Bouncy Castles galour from Bridgnorth Bouncy Castles - we even have our own Children's Festival sponsored bouncy castle this year - and from Tangerine Events. Buy a wristband for all day bouncing!
Timmy T. Entertainments will be providing their Gladiator Jousting equipment + Sumo Wrestling and possibly (still to be confirmed) a double bungee run plus we'll have the Bungee Trampoline, Go-Kart Party, FREE Face Painting and Giant Games
NEW FOR 2008:
RAF Cosford's EJECTOR SEAT
CLIMBING WALLprovided by CloserToTheEdge
Surf-Simulator from Lichfield Entertainments

Sports Zone

Once again our friends from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Coaching Academywill be back with soccer skills coaching and competitions
Skateboard and BMX ramps including a new mini-ramp
Lee Matthews Black Belt Academy martial arts
Table Tennis
Golf Coaching from BDC Xtreme Team
Tennis Coaching - Bridgnorth Tennis Club
Central Galaxy Trampoline Club
Jodie Leigh School of Dance workshops on Sunday

under 5's zone

We'll have a special secure area for our youngest visitors with indoor and outdoor play areas together with their own special Children's Festival sponsored Bouncy Castle courtesy of our good friends Bridgnorth Bouncy Castles.
Our thanks also go to:
Mount Nursery, Broseley – for organising and supervising sensory activities
Little Learners Pre-school – for providing much needed volunteers
St. Mary’s Playgroup, Bridgnorth – for lending outdoor play equipment
Bridgnorth Baptist Church - for lending indoor play equipment
Please remember the Children's Festival does not offer crèche or other childminding facilities. It's a FAMILY EVENT with loads of activities for families to explore together

Community, ARTS & EDUCATION

Learn to sign with Olli is a fantastic communication programme which we're delighted to have available
Dr. Parson's Crazy Comic Club will also be at the Festival this year to teach cartooning skills and help create our own huge poster
Plus we'll have SCALEXTRIC RACING, Dance & Percussion Workshops, Artsplay and possibly Pottery

You certainly won't be bored at the Bridgnorth Children's Festival

Food Zone

We don't think anyone went away hungry or thirsty from the Children's Festival. With an excellent range of tasty snacks, fruit and foods available - including healthy eating options and plenty of tea and coffee for parents - we cater for most people's tastes
Sweets from Gerry’s Sweet Shop
Mr Ali's Ice-cream van
St. Mary's Church Highley Refreshment tent supplying tea, coffee and soft drinks
Dinner Jackets providing baked potatoes
Billabong providing Baguettes, Paninis, Fajitas
Tris’s Pig Roast

 

WHAT'S HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY

The 2007 Festival comprised a number of ZONES with a huge range of activities and events with so much to do in so little time that there probably wasn't time to do everything!!!
By all accounts 2007's Children's Festival was brilliant - certainly from our point of view anyway and judging by the comments on our FEEDBACK page from your's too! Some photos are also available on the FEEDBACK page and you can have a look at a plan of the Festival site here - GO>>>

Entertainment Zones

Harley Entertainments co-ordinated a host of entertainers, magicians, puppeteers, storytellers + Frontline - an excellent band and Carmen the belly dancer.
Bridgnorth's very own Disco Daddy was his usual zany self making sur ethe Festival was a high octane mixture of energy and enthusiasm.
Sonic Boom Audio from Bridgnorth provided excellent PA facilities at this year's Festival

Sports & Leisure Zones

The excellent range of sports and activities, coaching, challenges and competitions included:

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Coaching Academy	Bridgnorth Rugby Club (Rugby Union)	Central Galaxy Trampoling Club
Disc Golf	Table Tennis	Lee Matthews Karate Academy
Athletics - with our Patron Chris Davies (Welsh International & Commonwealth Games 5,000 athlete)

Plus we had a even bigger ramps for skateboarding and BMX enthusiasts

Arts Zones

Many of you came along to express yourself with our textiles, painting and craft activities and watch the 'how to do it' demonstrations from the experts

Food Zones

We don't think anyone went away hungry or thirsty from the Children's Festival. With an excellent range of tasty snacks, fruit and foods available - including healthy eating options and plenty of tea and coffee for parents - we catered for most people's tastes

Salads, fresh juices and jacket potatoes from Fat Salads	Sandwiches from Hungry?	Sweets from Gerry’s Sweet Shop
Doughnuts	Mr Ali's Ice-cream van	Hot dogs and burgers - Tris' Pig Roast
Fairtrade organic muffins from Cinnamon Cafe	Crèpe & Grill - sweet and savoury crèpes	St. Mary's Church Highley Refreshment tent supplying tea, coffee and soft drinks

And we had a great Pig roast BBQ on the Sunday Evening to round off the Festival with a celebratory event

NEW FOR 2007:
We teamed up with Stirrin' Stuff an organisation that works in partnership with schools and nursery schools as well as at food events throughout the UK. Stirrin' Stuff encourages children to have fun cooking from scratch as well as promoting healthier diets and a greener environment. You can still have a look at their website for more information: GO>>>
The demonstrations were sponsored in conjunction with Suma the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler-distributor. Specialising in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical and natural products, Suma also has their own successful brand of food and non-food products.
Find out more on their website: GO>>>

Fun Zones

Games and activities for all ages including giant bouncy castles that even the young at heart could have a go on - and they did!
And if normal sized board games just weren’t big enough you could have played on our giant games - Giant Jenga, Giant Connect 4, Giant Snakes & Ladders, and Giant Ludo
You can see more information on the kind of Inflatables we had on site on our suppliers website - Lichfield Inflatables: GO>>> including their Velcro Wall, Giant Games, Bungee Run and Assault Course
In addition there were inflatables from Bridgnorth Bouncy Castles and Timmy T. Entertainments who provided a Rodeo Bull and Jousting Tournament

Toddlers Zones

The Toddler Zone was a great success providing for the very young - those 3 and under - a special area set aside for play activities, storytelling and lots more including:

Soft play area	Inflatable ball pool
Craft sessions	Baby toys
Reading area	Construction toys

New for 2007! We also incorporated an outdoor play area - a secure place to play next to the toddler tent with:

Activity gym	Sand and water play
Wooden wheeled toys	Physical activity sessions using Top Tots play equipment

A big thank you goes to St. Mary’s Playgroup for donating the wooden wheeled toys and to Bridgnorth Baptist Church for the loan of equipment.

Community Zones

Local organisations and some traders were available to provide information on what's happening in the area - it was a great place to promote activities

Contacts

Who to contact:

We still need people to help us run the activities and volunteer for various roles - will you help us? If so, please click on a name to send an e-mail:
Mark Gibbons is the Festival Co-ordinator (he puts all the activities together) so if you can help with specific activities or want more information on range of events happening get in touch.
Karen Gibbons is responsible for organsing volunteer help - she'd love to hear from you if you can assist us.