Haverhill KidsFest 2012

Sunday's annual KidsFest in Haverhill is expected to be the best celebration yet. The event is free and is expected to attract 15,000 people. Haverhill's annual celebration featuring children's activities and entertainment is Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the upper level of the parking deck in a single enclosed area, instead of being spread across the downtown as in past years.

"We've spent more on stage entertainment than we ever had in the past and we've configured it so no matter where you are, you can hear what's happening and know what's coming up next," said Jen Cantwell, program director for the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, which is presenting the festival. "This is the first time we're having interactive events on the main stage," Cantwell said.

This year the Community Support Committee is changing up our old favorite – with new activities, new entertainment, and a new location, check back for more info on this long-standing tradition! An increase in sponsorship this year allowed the Chamber to hire professional performers, including a circus and acrobatic troupe called "A Different Spin." A new "Salute to Disney" features professional actors dressed as Disney characters as they act out scenes from popular films.

Also new this year are pie eating contests open to children in two age groups: 5 to 12 and 13 to 17. Kids and their parents will be urged to step onto the stage for fun rounds of musical chairs. The winners of the pie eating and musical chairs contests receive KidsFEST T-shirts.

The annual Doll Parade will line up at 10:45 a.m. at One Parkway, in front of Pentucket Medical Associates. Every child in the parade will receive a free ticket to a raffle for a $75 gift certificate to Build-a-Bear, a store that sells custom-made teddy bears.

Kids can learn to play the bongos with All Hands Drumming, enjoy the various shapes balloon master Matthew Garelick will create, and participate in paper bag making, bubble blowing, art activities and even a scavenger hunt for pages from books. A variety of family-friendly vendors will sell food and other items.

This year's celebrity master of ceremonies is Juan Moya (aka DJ Golo) from Kiss 108 and Jamn' 94.5.

Schedule of Events:

10:45 a.m.: Doll Parade
11 a.m.: Opening ceremonies
11:15 a.m.: DeAngelis School of Music performances
11:45 a.m.: Pie eating contests, ages 5 to 12 and 13 to 17
Noon: Haverhill Jr. Idol singing contest
12:45 p.m.: Musical chairs contests for kids and their parents, winners receive T-shirts
1 p.m.: Salute to Disney — a performance by Disney characters
1:45 p.m.: Pie eating contests
2 p.m.: A Different Spin circus and acrobatics performance
3:15 p.m.: Haverhill Sr. Idol singing contest
4 p.m.: KidsFEST concludes

KidsFEST 2012 Activities:

(All activities take place on the upper level of Merrimack Street parking deck)

Paper bag puppet making International Child Care Center & Haverhill Day Care
Free face painting, International Child Care Center & Haverhill Day Care
Bubble-blowing, International Child Care Center & Haverhill Day Care
Mobile Art Shop, Creative Haverhill and partners
Wrestling Demonstrations and meet & greets (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Pony Rides, $2 per ride
Bouncy Houses, YMCA
Chalk Walk, YMCA
Doll Parade
Ambulance tours, Trinity EMS
Fire Dog and Smoke House, Haverhill Fire Department
Backpack IDs, Servpro
Free-style drawing activity, Servpro
Camp activities, Little Sprouts Child Enrichment Centers
Interactive animal demos, Curious Creatures
Book Fun with the Library, Haverhill Public Library
K-9 demonstrations and police bus tours, Essex Country Sheriff's Department (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.)
Art Activities, Haverhill public schools
Fishing for Prizes, Pentucket Lake Elementary School
Armed Services Truck Tours, Armed Services
Balloon Animals, Matthew Garelick
Ring Toss, Fireman Toss, Pitch-to-Win, Target
Martial Arts Demonstration, Ocasio's True Martial Arts, Chang's Tae Kwon Do, Godin's Premier Martial Art (1:30 p.m.)
Disney Princesses meet & greet, Big Smile Entertainment
Juggling & Acrobatics demos & instructional lessons, A Different Spin
Bongo Fun, All Hands Drumming