All activities in the Kids’ Village are free. Activities include:
- African Hair Braiding
- Crafts
- Face Painting
- Henna Temporary Tattoos
- Mancala
- Origami
- Yard Games
In addition, The Free Bus Buggie will be on the plaza side of the park from 5-7pm. The Free Book Buggie (TFBB) provides books to children and ignites a passion for reading. TFBB will be visiting the festival and providing a free book to each child. If you are interested in donating books to TFBB, feel free to bring them to the Festival and TFBB will happily put them to use at future events! To learn more, visit TFBB website.
Virtual Craft Classes
Czech Finger Puppets (Kids 10 and under class)
Supplemental Materials:
Enjoy making and learning about Czech finger puppets with Doreen McKenney, illustrator and Czech folk artist. The Czech people love the art of puppetry, marionettes, and theatre. It is not uncommon to find a shop in most Czech towns that sell puppets and marionettes. In this class, children will color, cut, and assemble a variety of Czech figures, then let their imagination take the stage. This class is designed for kids under 10 and their families.
Doreen received a BA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design followed by a career as an in-house artist. She has been volunteering for over 40 years at the Czech – Slovak Sokol organization in Saint Paul. She has led the crafts for 23 years at the Children’s Cultural Camp, and providing Czech recipes in cooking classes for the camps. Presently retired, she continues to volunteer and teach all ages groups to weave goose feathered pastry brushes, weave split straw ornaments, make cornhusk figures, and her latest, simple bobbin lace designs. You can find her Czech cards, coloring books and tote bags available in the museum shop at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, IA. Doreen also was part of a team that created the large puppets that have been exhibited previously at the International Festival of Burnsville.
Guatemalan Woven Bracelets (Kids 10-18 class)
Supplemental Materials:
Enjoy learning and making two weaved bracelets with artist Raquel Kaprosy. Raquel is an indigenous Mayan Kaqchikel from Guatemala, where it is common for people to weave textiles by following mothers or grandmother’s example. Children are taught the basic pattern by starting with these simple bracelets, transitioning to more complicated or larger objects such as belts “fajas” or table clothes. This class is designed for kids 10-18 and their families.
Raquel has shown the Kaqchikel weaving techniques at the Saint Paul Landmark Center and at the Twin Cities PBS:TPT channel for the series “worn within”.
Scandinavian Stenciled Table Linens (Adult class)
Handcraft a set of napkins with textile artist Kirsten Aune. Learn her stenciling technique, approach to design and color appreciation. You are sure to leave inspired. This class is designed for adults.
Kirsten has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, receiving numerous grants and scholarships, including the Jerome Travel, Arrowhead Regional Arts Fellowship and Finlandia Foundation grants. She has given numerous workshops including at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Swedish American Museum in Chicago and at the Porvoo Folk school in Estonia. Last fall she opened a showroom in Duluth’s Craft District, selling her screen printed tableware, apparel, pillows, kitchen goods and more. You can further view her work on her website, http://www.kirstenaune.com, and follow her on instagram at kirsten_aune.