The 757’s most exciting family festival, the Virginia Children’s Festival presented by Sentara Health Plans on Saturday, October 5, 2024 features more than 100 fun, creative, and interactive activities, including hands-on workshops, cultural experiences, military demonstrations, costumed characters, storytelling, musical performances, dance lessons, and much more! The festival is designed with children 10 and younger in mind.
Activities
- Craft a handmade piece of art at Art & Crafts with Chrystal
- Meet and Greet with a Mermaid from Back Bay Mermaid
- Meet and Greet with a Ballerina
- NEW! Explore the instrument petting zoo with Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia
- NEW! Catch an energetic cheer performance and pick up some new cheerleading moves with Bayside High School Cheerleading
- See the most bubbles you have ever seen in one place at The BIG Bubblefest Event
- Explore magical winged insects at the Butterfly Safari
- Create your own sidewalk art at the Chalk the Walk
- Face paintings by Changing Faces & Spaces
- NEW! Dive into interactive coding and robotics demonstrations with Code Ninjas
- Enjoy the Lemonade Stand for Community Betterment
- NEW! Experience the art of woodblock printing with D’Art Center
- Learn about a pirate’s life with The Defiant Crew
- Channel your inner archaeologist with the Dino Dig
- Get active with live games & limbo with DJ Melody
- NEW! Connect and learn about foster care opportunities in Hampton Roads with Embrace Treatment Foster Care
- NEW! Access valuable resources for families and individuals with autism with the Families of Autism Coming Together (F.A.C.T.)
- Play your favorite video games on the GamerBus
- Meet and Greet with The Ghostbusters
- Explore the outdoors with Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast
- Learn how to play chess and tackle game challenges with the Hampton Roads Chess Association
- Meet and Greet with Princesses
- NEW! Participate in engaging STEM activities and demonstrations with Jefferson Labs
- Escape & unwind at the Kulture City Sensory Zone
- Have some backyard fun with Lawn Games
- Construct buildings & characters at Lego Land
- Craft away with LemonDrop Makery
- Watch science with Mad Science of Hampton Roads
- NEW! Enjoy family game activities with the Maury High School Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America
- Test your putting skills with a round of Mini Putt
- NEW! Dance along to a kid-friendly music set and try out the “become your own DJ” interactive space with Music Theory Studios
- Create unique bracelets and play a duck-inspired game with Newport News Shipbuilding
- Enjoy interactive hockey-themed games with the Norfolk Admirals
- NEW! Make your own slime with hands-on chemistry with the Norfolk State University College of Science, Engineering, and Technology
- Experience robotics demonstrations and participate in exciting games with the Norview High School Robotics Club
- NEW! Watch a dynamic drum performance and join a mini drum workshop with Shark City Drumline
- Learn about Sentara Health Plan’s healthy lifestyle options
- NEW! Read and discover the art of literature with Slover Library
- Take a peek inside the car world with Southern Auto Group
- View unique vehicles at the Touch-A-Truck Experience
- Explore drone and aircraft displays and enjoy various games and activities from the Tuskegee Airmen
- NEW! Take dribbling classes and learn about a healthy lifestyle through soccer from the Virginia Beach City FC Semi-Pro Soccer Club
- NEW! Learn about wildlife from The Virginia Zoo
- Stop by WHRO Public Media’s PBS Kid’s Village
- NEW! Receive giveaways and resources to support the fight against epilepsy, PTSD, TBI, and seizures with WTTS4Epilepsy
Toddler Town
- Toys & tikes galore in a gated area for our younger festival guests! Toddlers must be 3ft tall or shorter to enter.
TowneBank Fountain Park
- View a variety of cool trucks, vehicles & other machinery at the Touch-a-Truck Experience!
WHRO Public Media’s Lights! Camera! Action! Stage Schedule (Main Stage)10:15am – Big Bang Boom!
10:55am – NEW! Making Weather in a Jar with 13 News Now
11:30am – WHRO Public Media presents Greenbeats
12:15pm – Big Bang Boom!
1:00pm – NEW! Dick’s House of Sport Fashion Show
1:35pm – Rainbow Puppets Show
2:10pm – WHRO Public Media Ms. Martha Reads
2:30pm – The Hurrah Players present THe Magic and Wonder of the Princess Kingdom
Ready, Set, GO! Stage Schedule
10:15am – Bayside High School Cheerleading
10:30am – Maureen’s School of Dance
11:00am – Music Theory Studios
11:30am – Bella Dance
12:00pm – Evelyn School of Dance
12:30pm – Adaptive Dance for All
12:45pm – Shark City Drumline
1:00pm – Libre Dance USA
1:30pm – Norfolk Dance Collective
Storytelling and More!
10:00am – 3:00pm – NEW! Shop the Mini Maker’s Market
10:45am, 11:45am, 12:45pm & 2:00pm – Back Bay Mermaid Book Nook
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm & 2:00pm – Pirate School with the Defiant Crew
