Partners for a Healthier Community

For the fourth year in a row, organizer Ric Oliveira and his crew have put together an expanded Kids' World Festival at Heritage State Park hosted by the Friends of Heritage State Park on August 13 & 14, 2010. Funding from Citizens Union Bank and dozens of volunteers provided activities, including hatching live chickens, Bob Schenck and his Animal Instincts pet store crew, lessons and instrument give-aways from TJ’s Music Live, a Fun Zone and bouncer from Teamworks, the Green Machine Science Zone (where children are exposed to the sciences of alternative energies, including making electricity from potatoes), a Sunday dance expo, superheroes, buried treasure, bubbles, face painting and jewelry making. The event is free of charge and most of it involves children taking an active part rather than simply watching. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for photos from last year. For more information about the event, contact Ric Oliveira at 508-678-3844 or Paul Simister, President of the Friends of Heritage State Park at 508-675-6373 or 508-353-0416.

(Top row, left and center) Dave Mello from the Fall River Public Library involves children in the story he is telling. (Top row, right) Children enjoy petting a turtle provided by the Animal Instincts pet store as he makes his way across the grass. (Row two, left) Katelynn Costa, owner Marissa Tavano, director Keith Silva and Aanah Campos of the Artistic Dance Studio in Westport perform on the stage overlooking Battleship Cove. (Row two, center) Keith Bedard, dressed as Spiderman, and Dan Rowland, dressed as Captain America joke around on the stage before the performances. (Row two, right) Robin and Batman, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey Mouse, the Madd Hatter, and Iron Man line up behind the turtle. (Row three) Cameron Perrault and Peter Belanger create giant bubbles, one of which is chased by Anthony G. Silvia, Jr. as his father, Anthony Sr., and mother, Jamie, watch from behind. (Row four) Samantha Congdon of Somerset enjoys the chance to paint a mural as children pet an albino pigmy hedgehog and a chinchilla held by Lorrie Alves of Animal Instincts. (Bottom row, left and center) Aidan Byar punches a dummy as 2nd Degree Black Belt instructor Devin Harnett and Nicholas Elias watch and while Gabbie Rodrigues hands out bags from USA Karate in Somerset. (Bottom row, right) Peter, Tonnor, Ariahanna Louis and two-year-old Lexi Martins enjoy the bounce house.