Kids Arts Festival Features Puppet People, Young Entrepreneur, And More on June 2

Schenectady, N.Y. - The ElectriCity Arts and Entertainment District announces the 18^th Annual Kid's Arts Festival on Saturday, June 2 from noon to 4 p.m. in the area surrounding City Hall.  The event goes on rain or shine with the rain location inside City Hall.  Targeted to pre-school and young school age children the Festival features professional entertainers, youth performers and arts activities sponsored by community agencies and most activities are free. "Kids Art gives children the opportunity to participate in a "hands-on" experience of the many sides of the arts. Families from all over the Capital Region come to Downtown Schenectady and get to see an active Arts District which makes downtown interesting and increases its economic vitality," said Joseph Tardi, President of the Schenectady Arts and Entertainment District". He added, "We love kids and families having fun." Performing artists will be on two different stages and will feature:

• Noon: The award winning Drum Line of Schenectady High School kicks off the event!

• 12:30 and 1:30: The Puppet People (http://www.thepuppetpeople.org/)
• 12:30 and 2:30:  Circus performer Juggling Josh Edelman on stage and on stilts at (http://www.superstarjuggler.com/)
• 3 p.m.: A Quartet of local teachers will perform with students sitting in with them.
• Finally, jam with Steel Pretty, a lively trio on the steel drums. (http://www.steelpretty.com/).  

On the street, there will be balloon artists along with a large variety of arts activities. Professional artists and community organizations will offer free arts activities such as clay, Indian crafts, duct tape crafts, slime and giant bubble making, face painting, origami, and pipe cleaner sculpture with local artist Steve Kowalski, plus many other activities for the entire family. Featured this year is 11-year-old Anna Williams who creates and sells beautiful pens turned on her lathe.   This young entrepreneur has her own web site  --http://www.pensink.com/Home.php and will demonstrate her craft and answer questions of other young potential artists. Funding for the Kids Arts Festival is from Schenectady County and New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Funds (through the Arts Center of the Capital Region and the generous support of private donors.

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Contact: Karen Johnson 518 573-2922