: Why should children have all the fun at a children's festival?
The Irving Arts Center had a free family festival today, and in the interest of pure random fun, my roommate and I decided to attend. Well, actually, we were really swayed by my dad. He saw a funnel cake booth as he drove by, and then promptly notified us. I think he was just hoping we'd bring him home a funnel cake...
Granted, most of the activities were geared around children. There were gymnastics stations set up, face painting, balloon animals and all sorts of hands on craft projects. Kids painted masks, got henna done on their hands, made beaded jewelry and even dipped bananas into colored sugar, thus making their own culinary art! We couldn't really do any of that. Well, I could have gotten henna done if I wasn't allergic to it... But here's what we could, and did, do:
- Watch (and help out with) the snake show
It might have been an open question and answer session for the little kids, a chance for them to see snakes up close and learn not to fear them. But when one of the snakes in question is an eight foot long albino Burmese python named Banana, it's just easier to have an adult hold it. And by being in the right place at the right time, I got to be one of those adults! (and lots of people actually thought I was part of the show!)
And let me tell you, boy does Banana know how to constrict. He wrapped himself around my waist and kept wanting to wrap himself around my neck!
But they were so cute! I asked the host about what kind of snakes he suggested for small apartment pets. He suggested a ball python, but those grow up to four feet. That's still pretty big to be honest. A little too big for me.
- Play (or pretend to play) musical instruments
The Youth Orchestra had a booth too, where they were letting children pick up and try various musical instruments. For the sake of entertainment, we tested several.
I learned... that I'd better just stick with choir. My violin skills are screechy at best. And when I blew as hard as I could out of the trumpet, not a single sound came out. My roommate was a lot better. Granted, she was still pretty screechy, but... at least she had enough hot air to make noise.
- Spin (or try to spin) some hula hoops
There were plenty of gymnastics exercises for the kids, but hula hoops are one thing even adults can enjoy! It was then that I remembered that I sucked pretty bad at hula hoops, even when I was a kid. In fact, the only time I really enjoyed hula hoops at all was during that Alvin and the Chipmunks song.
- Learn how a spinning wheel works
I actually didn't know how a spinning wheel worked until today. I'd seen them in fairy tales and on tv, but never realized that all it does is spin wool into a thin yarn that you then use for weaving. There are so many different ways to spin too. I wish we could have gotten to see the loom in action, but I think the Weavers Guild was a little tired by the time we got there.
- Hop aboard the bookmobile!
Yes, the public library has a bookmobile, and it's fully stocked with all kinds of books. It's also stocked with plenty of manga! I could have stayed there for hours! (which I didn't, because we're going to an Anime Club meeting at the library tomorrow. I can check out plenty of books from there instead!)
All in all, it was a good couple of hours!
We didn't buy any funnel cake, though...
Current Lips: orange with a white upside down triangle
The Irving Arts Center had a free family festival today, and in the interest of pure random fun, my roommate and I decided to attend. Well, actually, we were really swayed by my dad. He saw a funnel cake booth as he drove by, and then promptly notified us. I think he was just hoping we'd bring him home a funnel cake...
Granted, most of the activities were geared around children. There were gymnastics stations set up, face painting, balloon animals and all sorts of hands on craft projects. Kids painted masks, got henna done on their hands, made beaded jewelry and even dipped bananas into colored sugar, thus making their own culinary art! We couldn't really do any of that. Well, I could have gotten henna done if I wasn't allergic to it... But here's what we could, and did, do:
- Watch (and help out with) the snake show
It might have been an open question and answer session for the little kids, a chance for them to see snakes up close and learn not to fear them. But when one of the snakes in question is an eight foot long albino Burmese python named Banana, it's just easier to have an adult hold it. And by being in the right place at the right time, I got to be one of those adults! (and lots of people actually thought I was part of the show!)
And let me tell you, boy does Banana know how to constrict. He wrapped himself around my waist and kept wanting to wrap himself around my neck!
But they were so cute! I asked the host about what kind of snakes he suggested for small apartment pets. He suggested a ball python, but those grow up to four feet. That's still pretty big to be honest. A little too big for me.
- Play (or pretend to play) musical instruments
The Youth Orchestra had a booth too, where they were letting children pick up and try various musical instruments. For the sake of entertainment, we tested several.
I learned... that I'd better just stick with choir. My violin skills are screechy at best. And when I blew as hard as I could out of the trumpet, not a single sound came out. My roommate was a lot better. Granted, she was still pretty screechy, but... at least she had enough hot air to make noise.
- Spin (or try to spin) some hula hoops
There were plenty of gymnastics exercises for the kids, but hula hoops are one thing even adults can enjoy! It was then that I remembered that I sucked pretty bad at hula hoops, even when I was a kid. In fact, the only time I really enjoyed hula hoops at all was during that Alvin and the Chipmunks song.
- Learn how a spinning wheel works
I actually didn't know how a spinning wheel worked until today. I'd seen them in fairy tales and on tv, but never realized that all it does is spin wool into a thin yarn that you then use for weaving. There are so many different ways to spin too. I wish we could have gotten to see the loom in action, but I think the Weavers Guild was a little tired by the time we got there.
- Hop aboard the bookmobile!
Yes, the public library has a bookmobile, and it's fully stocked with all kinds of books. It's also stocked with plenty of manga! I could have stayed there for hours! (which I didn't, because we're going to an Anime Club meeting at the library tomorrow. I can check out plenty of books from there instead!)
All in all, it was a good couple of hours!
We didn't buy any funnel cake, though...
Current Lips: orange with a white upside down triangle
Current Mood: 
satisfied
satisfied