This year's KidFest the fourth to be organised and jointly funded by the Friends group went very well indeed. It was a great opportunity to publicise LEAP and invite visitors to harvest produce - which quite a few did.
This homely and happy little community event that is part of the two week long Kidderminster Arts Festival, which has attractions in various parts of the town, draws children and families to enjoy some great activities in the park. In a collaboration between FoSGP and the District Council, the latter being more a 'sleeping' partner - a small group of volunteers raise the funds and make the arrangements to create spaces in the park for the community to come together and enjoy a few hours of free entertainment, discovery and sharing. Below are some images from yesterday. Many thanks to all participants including Liberty Rocks children's theatre, West Mercia Police, the Royal Horticultural Society, St George's Church, the Children's Library Bus and Waste2Want crafts.
Rough stats, an estimate based upon counter clicking on the main Radford Avenue gate over the 4 hours KidFest takes place attracted between 900 and 1,000 visitors.
The Library Bus was visited by 47 adults and 88 children and signed up 9 new members. Tracey on the RHS seed planting stall was under constant demand throughout - she never stopped, Eira's Waste2Want a KidFest regular was as always, a very popular craft making recycling feature and St George's Church provided music and do-it-youself musical intrument making.
All in all, KidFest 16 was a laid back, free chillaxation event in the heart of the community. One Bangladeshi mom who arrived early told us her kids had pestered her since they got up to come to the park and were excited that KidFest was happening a short distance from where they live. Anecdotes like that make us feel it's all worthwhile and so we celebrate yet another success by community activists for our community and visitors to our park. Well done to all for a great day of togetherness and easy going recreation at zero cost and where you could even pick your dinner for free as well.