Saturday, May 6
The 28th Newport News Children's Festival of Friends is happening on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Newport News Park. The festival features over 100 hands-on activities including make-and-take crafts, rides (pony rides, trackless train,

tiki rock wall, moon bounce, slide, obstacle course), fitness activities (gymnastics, obstacle course, tennis), educational exhibits (science experiments, gardening, farm animals and sheep shearing), and displays by City Departments and community organizations that serve children.
Children can meet their favorite book characters including Curious George, Clifford, and the Berenstain Bears and see animals from the Virginia Living Museum, exotic animals from ZooPro, and farm animals from Gum Tree Farm. The youngest festival guests can play in a special “Happy Campers” Pre-school Play Area. At noon, a special “Elephants Gerald” performance about Ella Fitzgerald by Jennifer Gammill (Young Audiences of Virginia) will celebrate the centennial of the “First Lady of Song.” Children from the Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism instructional class programs are showcasing their talents on stage: 2 p.m. Newport News City Arts (dance) and 3 p.m. Newport News Flipateers (gymnastics).
There is a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. Festival admission and all activities (including all rides) are free. Food vendors on site. No pets permitted in the festival area. For more information, call 757-926-1400.