2024 FAQs

What arts and crafts will be available this year?

We will have around 20 stations featuring a wide variety of Renaissance-themed art projects, including tunics, magic wands, crowns, swords, bird masks, puppets, soapstone carving, wood block construction, and other favorites from past years. 

Will there be a castle this year?

Of course there will be a castle!  Our dear friend, Steve Ellis, constructed a huge, 800 square foot plywood castle with a maze inside that kids can paint inside and out. Sadly, Steve passed away in 2022, but his castle will be reconstructed at Pioneer Park and enjoyed for years to come.

What other activities will be available?

We will once again have Pyrat Skool and catapults.  We will have a fortune teller, face painting, and wooden puppets the kids can make dance. 

What about live entertainment?

We’ll have a great line-up of entertainment.  Izzy Tooinsky, everyone’s favorite juggler, will be there.  We’ve also lined up the Diamond Rose Fencers to put on a fencing demonstration, as well as bagpipers and other musicians.  We’ll also have costumed characters roaming the Festival grounds and participating in the parade at the end of each session.

Will refreshments be available at the Festival?

Steve and Susie Walker of REMAX/GOLD are bringing their gigantic BBQ to fix tri-tip sandwiches. Yum! We’ll also be selling hot dogs, popcorn, lemonade, and other light snacks as in prior years. 

The Children’s Festival no longer sells single-use plastic water bottles.  The Children’s Festival has purchased and donated a hydration station for Pioneer Park, which will enable people to refill their own water bottles and reduce the amount of plastic waste.

What if I forget my water bottle?

No worries.  The hydration station has a drinking fountain, and you can get free cups at the Refreshment area.  We will also have souvenir aluminum water bottles for sale for $5 each.

Can we bring our own food?

Yes, you’re welcome to bring your own food and beverages.  There will be picnic tables set up near the Refreshment stand that you can use.  You can also set up your own picnic in Pioneer Park outside the Festival grounds before or after you come to the Festival.

How do I get tickets? What’s the admission price? 

You can buy tickets at the gate. Tickets are still just $3 per session per person (cash), with a 50 cent convenience fee per ticket if paying with credit card.

How do we get in?

There are two entrances. You can come in from Nimrod St. by the Seamen’s Lodge; the entrance is just past the pool and playground. The other entrance is at the end of the parking lot at Park Ave. and Max Solano Dr. Just follow the crowd.

Where can we park?

The large parking lot on Park Ave. will be for volunteers who carpool and for those with DP license plates or placards. There are other, smaller parking lots at various locations at Pioneer Park, and you can park on surface streets in the surrounding neighborhoods.  Please carpool if possible and take care not to block anyone’s driveway.

Are dogs allowed at the Festival?

Sorry. Only service dogs are allowed at the Festival.

How can I help?

It takes an army of volunteers to put on the Children’s Festival.  We need people to help out at the craft tables and other activities.  If you can spare three hours of your time, we would love to hear from you!  I promise you’ll have fun!  Please contact our volunteer coordinator at helpers@thechildrensfestival.com.

Does the Children’s Festival accept donations?

Yes, donations are gratefully accepted.  The Children’s Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization sponsored by Gold Country Kiwanis.  Please contact our director, Judi Mosley, at childfestboard@gmail.com for more information.

Any other tips for the adults attending the Festival with kids?

Keep the Kids Safe.  Please keep the kids from entering the creek or going past the caution tape. 

Remember your Artwork!  Please remember to pick up your crafts before you leave.  Some of the crafts need to dry, and we often wind up with works of art that get left behind at the end of the Festival.  

Prefer not to have your child’s photograph taken? Stickers will be available on request at the park entrances. Please place the sticker in a visible spot on your child. The roving photographer (taking photos for the website and/or Facebook page) will not take your child’s photo and will delete any group photos that include someone with a visible sticker.