For Kids

Explore. Entertain. Engage. Share the Experience of Art!

Inspired by the work of Calder, families can bend and twist colorful wires into fancy swirls and wonderful designs. Attach beads of all shapes and sizes to create a beautiful piece of art to hang in the window.

Make a child happy with a balloon and show your support for festival. Balloons are only $1. Located on Ottawa Avenue, in front of the Kent County Courthouse.

Create colorful sidewalk art with chalk.

Board a trolley for the 20-minute self-guided City History Tour showcasing the history of development and preservation in downtown Grand Rapids. (Sat. 10am – 4pm) Click more info for route information.

Spin around in the gigantic tire swing created by artist Mark DiSuvero. Supervised by volunteers, the swing can be found between City Hall and the Federal Building.

Choose one of the cool designs offered and have it painted on your face or arm. Face painting is located on the west lawn of the Federal Building.

Back by popular demand, Glue In is the place where kids can create art with pieces of cut wood and glue. Glue in is located in the Fifth Third parking lot on Ottawa Avenue.

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s Traveling Troupe will be performing “Tales of Molly Molloy” on the Meijer Majestic Stage. The show is approximately 50 minutes long and will conclude with a talk-back for the audience. Appropriate for ages 4 through adult.

Kids ages 4-12 will be able to paint their own masterpiece using washable paints in this parent-free zone located in the Fifth Third parking lot on Ottawa Avenue.

Kids 3-10 will be able to create something different each day of festival. Click more info for schedule.

Kids ages 4-12 will be able to create whimsical hats in this parent-free zone located on the south side of the Federal Building.

With the focus on family safety, the Michigan Child Identification Program (MICHIP) invites parents to bring their children to the tent on Monroe Center, where volunteers from the local Masons will help create a packet of the child’s vital information in case of an emergency. Special thanks to the Michigan Masons Doric Lodge for the providing this service.

The 2009 festival opens Friday, June 5th at noon on the Calder Stage. This year’s Opening Ceremonies feature the youth and energy of our West Michigan community. The students of William C. Abney Academy will perform in song and dance, demonstrating the importance of the arts, recycling and sharing. Please join us as our community’s youth kick off the 40th festival of the arts in Grand Rapids.

Listen to West Michigan’s best storytellers tell their tales. Stories during the day are geared for kids through age 12. After 5 pm, the stories are more appropriate for older audiences.
Click more info for complete schedule.

The Youth Art Exhibit is a colorful, non-juried show of K-12 student artwork submitted by local art teachers. The exhibit can be found on the first floor of the Old Art Museum, next to the Regional Arts Competition.