Children's festival to feature 'box city'

The Conejo Recreation and Park District in cooperation with the Conejo Chapter of the National Charity League will present the 12th annual Children's Festival of the Arts from noon to 3 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7.

This fall tradition will once again be staged at Conejo Creek North on Janss Road and features hands-on arts, crafts, music and en- tertainment. Children are advised to wear "messy clothes" to fully en- joy the fun.

A wide selection of crafts and activities will dazzle the children. Brightly colored bead necklaces, face painting and sand art are just a few of the attractions. In addition, rock painting, making creative masks and stamp art visors will be among the fun activities.

The centerpiece of the event is the ever-popular "box city," a co- operative construction project building upward with cardboard, tape and paint. The huge "city" with tunnels and doors takes on the feel- ing of a child-sized maze. At the other end of the spectrum, recy- clable materials will be glued, taped and stuck together to construct a miniature town in Recycle City.

The entertainment portion of the festival is always a fun and eclectic mix of culture and comedy.

The unforgettable sights and sounds begin at 12:15 p.m. with the grand entrance by the Pacific Coast Highlander Bagpipers and Irish Dancers. "Mr. David and the Buckwild" will be performing children's music (for all ages to enjoy) at 1 p.m.

At 2 p.m., enjoy the comic fun of the "Buster Balloon Show" star- ring Buster. Wandering the festival will be Fred Harshberger, "The Balloon Dude."

Volunteers from the National Charity League will transform the north side of the park into a fun fes- tival of crafts, games, art and mu- sic. The League is a nonprofit na- tional organization of mothers and daughters who join together in com- munity service. More than 120 young women will assist children with 26 different hands-on crafts and activities.

Charity League members are called "Ticktockers" and participate in a six-year program of charity work, education and community service. Ticktockers begin their charitable career in seventh grade supporting 24 Conejo Valley phil- anthropic and service organizations

including Many Mansions and Mary Health of the Sick that pro- vide college scholarships to local high school women.

The National Charity League also educates its members in a va- riety of life skills such as how to apply for college, how to travel safely and proper etiquette. Expo- sure to cultural events and the arts is also a priority.

The Charity League raises funds by operating Fibber McGee's Thrift Store in Thousand Oaks, with all monies going back into the com- munity.

The Festival is celebrating its 12th year with the Conejo Recre- ation and Park District and National Charity League cooperatively pre- senting the activities and supervis- ing the fun. All the crafts and enter- tainment are free.

Refreshments will be available for a nominal fee and proceeds di- rectly benefit the program.

In case of rain, the event will be presented at the Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road.

For more information, call (805) 381-2793.

Kouba is recreation coordina- tor for the Conejo Recreation and Park District.