Mar 13, 2018 4 min read

For the third year, organizers of Kids Fest, Washington County’s largest family-friendly event, predict a day of fun and entertainment. Favorites like face painting, an animal show and inflatable zone will return, but this year’s event – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Washington Crown Center, 1500 W. Chestnut Street – also will include several opportunities to help those in need.

“A major component of all of our events is to have that nonprofit partnership,” said Carole DeAngelo, marketing director of Observer Publishing Co. “This year, we’ve added a few new elements that make it easy to give back.”

As in previous years, attendees of Kids Fest can enter a drawing to win a play house from Lilliput Play Homes. This year, five additional entries will be given for every donation of new children’s pajamas, to fit infants to 12-year-olds. A princess cottage worth more than $5,000 will be given away with the necessary lumber from Liberty Lumber.

“So, if someone donates four pairs of pajamas, they’ll get 20 more entries into the drawing,” said DeAngelo. “We want to stuff that play house with pajamas.”

The pajamas will be donated to Washington City Mission, a Christian-based shelter that provides services to the homeless.

Also new will be a children’s consignment sale with gently used items like clothes, toys, books, furniture and more. After the sale, which be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., consignors wishing to do so can donate their unsold inventory to City Mission, courtesy of All Ways Moving and Storage.

Greater Washington County Food Bank also will be there, collecting nonperishable food.

Kids Fest will feature a mommy and me glam corner where little ones can get a mini-makeover and moms can get a touch-up, as well as appearances by royal princesses, Wild World of Animals and a magic show, and theater and dance performances.

“When we start planning, we always talk about what we can do to build upon last year’s event,” said DeAngelo.

Kids Fest is held in March, said DeAngelo, because by late winter, kids are ready to get out and do something. Stations with inflatables, sports and fitness activities and obstacle courses will provide plenty of opportunities to burn off energy.

About 50 vendors are scheduled to participate in the marketplace, and DeAngelo wants people to know they represent more than businesses.

“‘Vendors’ implies they’re all selling something. And we have a ton of groups and organizations that will be there as resources to the community,” said DeAngelo. “This will be a place where parents and grandparents can get information they need and have access to groups they may not have known existed. All the while, the kids will be entertained and happy.”

Francesca Sacco, marketing assistant, said all participants, including Blueprints, LeMoyne Community Center, libraries, fire departments, Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission, Salvation Army, Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA and more, were asked to provide a craft or activity for children.

“We love bringing all of these elements together under one roof. People can come, see live entertainment, get needed information, eat, do a little shopping and give back to the community, if they’re able,” said DeAngelo. “We want to make sure that as a family, you leave feeling great.”

For more information on Kids Fest, sponsored by the Observer-Reporter and Peoples, visit kidsfestpa.com.