Spotlight on Festivals: Festival of Children

September signals the end of summer for many kids as they grudgingly head back to school. But the month of September is also distinguished as National Child Awareness Month, and the Festival of Children is back to celebrate the amazing work done by more than 75 nonprofit charities in our community.

The 11th Annual Festival of Children, held in conjunction with National Child Awareness Month, is currently underway and and takes place every weekend throughout September at South Coast Plaza.

Throughout the festival there will be song and dance performances by children from local schools, as well as arts, crafts and activities for children.

On Saturday, September 15 from 1-5 p.m., Beachworks will present “Keep Discovering with Element,” which will include:

1 p.m.

• Chop Shop and S.K.A.T.E. registration begins

 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

• Jammin’ with Ray Barbee Guitar Workshop in the Beachworks store
• No Board Left Behind Chop Shop:  Recycle used skate decks into new cruisers
• Live interactive art with Element advocate’s Mike Kershnar and Brooke Reidt 
• Recycled wrap bracelet craft with old t-shirts and metal hardware

4 p.m. 

• Join in a game of S.K.A.T.E. and bring your flat-ground skills

5 p.m.

• Team signing:  First 5 in line at Beachworks will get a free Element board

Personally, I'm looking forward (for my kids, of course!) to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s “Dance Free Day,” where kids can cut loose with famed choreographer Debbie Allen on Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Carousel Court. Register for free starting September 13 at www.festivalofchildren.org.

Be on the lookout throughout South Coast Plaza for the 19 different structures made of canned food by Orange County Canstruction®. More than 60,000 canned food items will later be donated to the Orange County Food Bank.

Also, HomeAid Orange County will display whimsical children’s playhouses. Built with incredible furnishings and intricate details by dedicated homebuilders, architects and designers who donate their talents and resources, the amazing lifelike playhouses will be auctioned off to raise money to build housing for homeless families through Project Playhouse.

Whitney Houston sang "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside," and Festival of Children is helping these non-profit organizations do just that.

For a complete schedule of events, click here.