Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism will present the twenty-sixth Newport News Children's Festival of Friends on Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Newport News Park. Children can meet their favorite book characters including Paddington Bear, Spot, and Froggy; see exotic animals from ZooPro Adventures (1:00 PM on the Discovery Stage), and make crafts from recycled items with the Scrap Exchange. New for 2015 is Tagtime Laser Tag (free to play) and a performance by Jow Ga Kung Fu (Kung Fu demonstration, Lion Dance, and Dragon Dance) at 2:00 PM.
The festival features over 100 hands-on activities including make-and-take crafts, rides (pony rides, trackless train, tiki rock wall, moonbounce, slide, obstacle course), fitness activities (gymnastics, obstacle course, tennis), educational exhibits (science experiments, gardening, giant mural painting, drumming, farm animals and sheep shearing), and displays by City Departments and community organizations that serve children. A special Preschool PlayZone will be filled with toys for the youngest festival guests.
Children from the Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism Instructional Class Program will showcase their talents on stage: 11:00 AM Newport News City Arts (dance), 12:00 PM Newport News Flipateers (gymnastics), and 3:00 PM Riverview Royals (cheerleading).
There is a $5.00 parking fee per vehicle. Festival admission and all activities (including all rides) are free. Food vendors on site ($). No pets permitted in the festival area. Newport News Park is located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Ft. Eustis Boulevard. From I-64E, take Exit 247 and turn left onto Jefferson Avenue. From I-64W, take Exit 250B and follow the signs to Newport News Park.
For more information, call 757-926-1400.