What's happening in the Kid's Village this May?

Kids Village Director!!! Denisa Rullmoss

Friday
  • Hoop Dance Fun for Kids! w/ Melanie MacNeil!
  • Juggling, Magic, Fire-Eating and more w/ Randall Thompson!
  • Interactive Puppets Show w/ Cathy Kielar
    • Saturday
  • Balloon Twisting Workshop with Becki the Balloon Lady!
  • Becky Stone - Stories & Songs for you to hear and tell!
  • Hot Duck Soup - Old-time Jazz Swing Ragtime Blues Jugband!
  • Flag Movement Workshop & Stilt-Walking with Fin & Mike O.!
  • Vincent Nsengiyumva - Rwandan multi-instrumentalist
  • Young Fiddler’s Workshop with Isaac Akers
  • “Crawdad’s Conundrum” puppet show w/ PaperHand Puppet Intervention
  • LEAF PARADE
  • Secret Agent 23 Skidoo….Hip Hop for Kids!
  • Youth (ages 12-17) Poetry Slam w/ Taylor Hunt!
    • Sunday
  • EXPLORE! Rhythm • Kids Rhythm Circle
  • Clogging Workshop for kids! w/ Andy Edmonstone
  • Becky Stone - Stories & Songs for you to hear and tell!
  • Hot Duck Soup - Old-time Jazz Swing Ragtime Blues Jugband
  • Juggling, Magic, Fire-Eating and more w/ Randall Thompson!
  • Black Mountain Arts Center Jam
    • LEAF Instrument Petting Zoo • LIPZ
    LEAF is starting an Instrument Petting Zoo at the Kid's Village! This is a tent where kids can see, touch, hear and play instruments! The goal is to inspire an interest in music and nurture the natural curiosity of kids. We are looking for donations! The instruments be old, ugly, badly beaten up, etc. (OR of course new and beautiful!). As long as the instrument can still be blown, banged, strummed or picked it would be useful. At LEAF drop by the Instrument Petting Zoo tent! We'll have chairs for jams and to let kids look at and touch (w/ supervision) your instrument! Pass the love of music on.... To donate an instrument contact: Denisa Rullmoss by email












    Kids & Families

    "In a metamorphosis worthy of Kafka himself, the last Lake Eden Arts Festival turned my kids’ oft-tossed toddler tantrums into tempers of sweet tranquility"
    - parent quote from Mountain Express

    LEAF is a family scene and a blast for kids of all ages! Create memories in a perfect setting as you engage in a multitude of activities. Just a few of the things to keep everyone happy: swimming, the zipline, climbing wall, tennis, hiking, exploring the woods & streams, dancing, music, storytelling, puppet shows, poetry slams, kayaking, canoeing, face painting, yoga, arts & crafts, yummy food, the LEAF parade, fire shows and just hanging out together. It doesn't get any better than this!

    "LEAF is the perfect opportunity to send the whole family to camp… For three days, mom, dad and kids have the unique opportunity to be in a setting that is designed for children and families to have a safe, fun, and life expanding experience."
    - Rapid River

    "I am 13 years old and have been coming to LEAF for 4 years. I fell in love with it the first time I came. I know so many people there, now, and it is a special time for me to visit with friends. I have been inspired many times at LEAF and every time I go, it becomes more magical. Thank you for such a wonderful place!"
    -from the LEAF forum

    "My experience at spring LEAF was very positive, healing and rejuvenating...I'd heard for many years about LEAF and finally made it. LEAF provided the most well rounded variety of arts and was the most family friendly of all festivals that I attended.”
    - Berkeley

    Kids Handcraft Market

    Located at the Kid's Village! (for kids 14 & under) Amazing and original kid made art. The best place to shop at LEAF! Kids bring your blanket, your creations and your smiles and sell your wares at this busy market. Just a few guidelines:

  • All items must be handmade & sold by you for $6.00 or less (no candy, food or store bought items)
  • Kids must sign up at the Kid's Village during selling times and pay a $3.00 daily fee for a space. This fee is a donation to LEAF in Schools & Streets!
  • Kid sellers may share a space, but not a fee.
  • Spaces are 1st come, 1st served (within the hours open, no one can set up early).

    A Kid's Handcraft Market volunteer will help with spaces, sign ups and collect money.
    There is also a Kid's Performance Platform to showcase your talents as you play an instrument, sing or dance.
    Kids bring your fiddles, your horns, your tap shoes and your voice!!

    Hours: Friday 4-8 • Saturday 10-6 • Sunday 10-4

    • Kids Village

    "WOW!....there is so much to do" is frequently heard at the LEAF Kid's Village. It is our goal to bring fun & magic to all LEAFers.

    We take the words "Family Friendly Festival" seriously. Enjoy:

  • Performance Stage with puppet shows, jugglers, kids music bands, magicians, storytellers, sing-a-longs, dancers, workshops for kids & more!
  • Craft Tent where kids are welcome to come and create one of a kind arts & crafts!
  • Costume Tent with a multitude of crazy and wacky costumes to try on....don't forget to bring the camera to this tent.
  • Face Painting Tent with wonderfully talented painters always on hand. A VERY popular area.
  • NEW! LEAF Instrument Petting Zoo - Kids, both young & old, can see, touch, hear AND play a multitude of instruments. Wanna know what it feels like to strum a dulcimer, bang a djembe, clang a tambourine, toot a trumpet or shake a shakeree? In addition to experiencing instruments 1st hand, LEAF performers will drop by the ZOO throughout the weekend with THEIR instrument and folks can see it up close and personal!
  • Bubble blowing, hula-hooping, parachute play, karaoke time and shaving cream fun are some of the activities that take place throughout the Village.
  • Balloon Twisters, Stilt-Walkers and Belly-Dancers are just a few of the roaming entertainers you can find.
  • Kid's Handcraft Market with original handmade kid art!

    & Bedtime Stories
    As the sun sets over LEAF, something special happens in front of the fireplace inside Thunderbird Lodge. Friday & Saturday evenings, the vaudeville-style storytelling of Sarah Eshan creates a magical setting. Her stories, characters, and songs take audiences places that span the globe and connect them to ancestral and cultural roots with laughter and the occasional lesson for life. Come experience the storytelling spirits with her!

    • Elfhaven Childcare

    Elfhaven Childcare in Arrowhead Lodge is a sweet creative play space for kids and little ones. Kate Hyde & her crew, who have been involved with festival childcare for quite awhile, create a magical kids world with arts, crafts, games, puppets, books and blocks. Truly a very special festive child care. Kids come have fun and parents go play!

    Friday 7pm-1am • Saturday 12pm-2am • Sunday 12am-4pm in Arrowhead Family Lodge.
    Sign up at Arrowhead Lodge. $5 per hour- a great deal. Sibling discounts. Sign up early for limited spaces.

    Interested In Being A Kid's Village Performer?

    If you are interested in being a Kid's Village performer, entertainer, face painter, balloon twister, etc. please contact the Denisa Rullmoss - LEAF Kid's Village Director denisa@theleaf.com

    “This is one of the nicest things I do for myself and my son. I hope he grows old remembering childhood at LEAF.”
    ~ Andrew C.