Welcome to KidFest! Ridgeland

KidFest! Ridgeland welcomes our presenting sponsor...
University of Mississippi Health Care

KidFest! Ridgeland has come and gone for 2008, but we will be back next year bigger and better than ever!  Mark your calendar for KidFest April 18 & 19, 2009 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland.  Keep checking this website for updates and information.  This year's event provided a variety of choices of shows, interactive activities and attractions.  Our guests had the opportunity to meet some of their favorite Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon TV characters such as Dora of Dora the Explorer, Diego of Go, Diego, Go and SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star from the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants.

Our festival was named one of the "Top Twenty Events in the Southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society and "Favorite Family Event" by the readers of Parents & Kids magazine.

We encourage families to participate in as many activities as they want and watch as many shows as they want.  All of the shows and attractions are presented in intimate settings so everything is "up close and personal." Ultimately, our objective is to provide an opportunity for parents and children to interact with each other and provide an affordable, memorable family experience.

2008 ATTRACTIONS.SHOWS.ACTIVITIES

Meet and greet Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon characters:
Dora of Dora the Explorer, Diego of Go, Diego, Go and SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star from the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants.
www.nickjr.com  www.nick.com

ZOPPE' An Italian Family Circus:
Starring Nino the clown, the ZOPPE' circus is propelled by a central story that features acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowning and plenty of audience participation.  Giovanni Zoppe', the sixth-generation circus performer who plays Nino, says the show aims higher than most circuses these days.  "We try to touch every emotion during the show," he says.  "They'll laugh, they'll cry and they'll feel for our characters.  It's more of an event than a show." Four 30 minute shows on Saturday and three on Sunday. Seating is limited to first 500 guests for each show.
www.zoppe.net

Backyard Circus:
An old-fashioned backyard circus where as many as thirty children from the audience have the opportunity to dress up and be the circus performers.  The show includes a lion tamer, strongman, butterfly ballerinas and tightrope walker. During the grand finale one lucky kid is shot out of a cannon, not a real cannon, but it is a great ending to the "World's Greatest Backyard Circus." Four 30-minute shows on Saturday and three on Sunday.
www.midwaycaravan.com

NEW! The Fearless Flores Family
Dad (Ricardo), Mom (Arcelia) and five-year-old son (Volorian) perform on their motorcycles in the Globe of Death.  Also, watch the lovely Arcelia perform acrobatics on the 65-foot high swaypole.  Volorian is the ninth generation Flores to perform.  Four shows on Saturday and three shows on Sunday.
www.ffthrill.com

MORE RIDES!  Kiddy Midway:
Three carnival rides for kids plus a merry-go-round that parents and kids can ride together.  Ongoing throughout the festival.

MORE PONIES!  Pony Rides:
Kids can ride the ponies as many times as they want.  Children can also dress up like a cowboy/cowgirl and have their picture taken at the adjacent booth for $10 and have the option to purchase a frame.  Cash only.  Ongoing throughout the festival.

Temporary Tattoos:
Always a festival favorite, children can have various festival designs airbrushed on their face. Ongoing throughout the festival.

NEW! Skin & Bones Comedy Circus:
Husband and wife team up as clowns...Mariah Skinner and Bob Bone have been presenting a unique show of animals, skill and comedy since 1981.  Bob was trained at the Barnum & Bailey Clown College and has appeared with many circuses over the years.  Each show includes various combinations of trained dogs, potbellied pigs, low wire walking, juggling, magic and plenty of laughs!  Four 30-minute shows on Saturday and three on Sunday. www.skinandbonesentertainment.com

Clowning Around:
Mississippi's favorite clown, Inky the Clown, conducts workshops demonstrating how to perform various clown skills.  He will also entertain when workshops are not in session. Ongoing throughout the festival.
www.inkytheclown.com

The Nylon Zoo:
The Nylon Zoo is a choreographed participatory event where festival guests are the dancers and performers.  They can fly like a bird, hop like a frog or rabbit, twirl in a rainbow cape, swim like a fish or bobble like a hoopla mushroom.  The costumes fit all ages from 2 to 102 and are designed to make people MOVE!  Ongoing throughout the festival.
www.evelynroth.com/fa_nylonzoo.html 

World's Smallest Horse:
You won't believe your eyes! It's really a horse! Ongoing throughout the festival.

Kid Karaoke:
Kids can perform children's songs on a kid-sized stage. Ongoing throughout the festival.

Magic Tent:
Robert Day, Mississippi Magician, shows families how to do magic tricks.  He will entertain between sessions. Ongoing throughout the festival.

MORE TRAINS!  Train Rides:
Parents and kids can ride the train around the festival grounds over and over again.  ALL ABOARD! Ongoing throughout the festival.

Hat Making:
Children can use their imaginations to create wild clown hats, ringmaster hats and outrageous crowns!  Ongoing throughout the festival.

Stroller Square:
Stroller Square is a place designed for families with infants and toddlers.  Parents have a place to sit down and relax while their children play and explore.  It includes a nursing and diaper change area.  Ongoing throughout the festival.
www.midwaycaravan.com

Touch-A-Truck:
Provided by the City of Ridgeland Recreation & Parks Department, children will have the opportunity to safely be "up close and personal" with big trucks and heavy equipment. Ongoing throughout the festival.



HOW TO GET TO KIDFEST!

View enlarged map (PDF)

Festival Grounds:
There is limited parking near the festival grounds in Freedom Ridge Park located at
235 West School Street
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
Map to Freedom Ridge Park

MORE BUSES!  Shuttle Bus Service:
We provide FREE shuttle bus service from Olde Towne Middle School and Holmes Community College to the front gate of the festival.  Both schools are just minutes away from the park and are located on Sunnybrook Road just East of Interstate 55.

Directions from I-55 South:
Take exit 105-B
Turn left at the end of the ramp onto Jackson Street
Go to the first traffic light and turn left onto Sunnybrook Road
Olde Towne Middle School is on your right
Holmes Community College is a little further on your right

Directions from I-55 North:
Take exit 105-B
Merge right onto Jackson Street at the end of the ramp
Immediately begin merging into the left turning lane
Turn left at the traffic light onto Sunnybrook Road
Olde Towne Middle School will be on your right
Holmes Community College will be a little further on your right

TICKETS:

Children younger than 2 years old are admitted to the festival FREE of charge.  All other guests require a ticket for admission to the festival. All performances, activities, attractions and rides are included in the ticket price.


Ridgeland City Hall
Department of Recreation & Parks
302 Highway 51
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
Ph: 601.853.2011
Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
Cash-Check

Ridgeland Visitors Center
Renaissance at Colony Park
1000 Highland Colony Parkway
Suite 6006
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Ph: 601.605.5252
Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Check-Credit Cards

Be-Bop Record Shop
Maywood Mart Shopping Center
1220 East Northside Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39211
Ph: 601.981.5000
Monday-Thursday 9:30am-9:30pm
Friday-Saturday 9:30am-10:00pm
Sunday 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Ticket purchases end one hour prior to closing*
Cash & Credit Accepted for Ticket Sales
Service Charge - $.50 per ticket

Be-Bop Record Shop
3887 Metro Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39204
Ph: 601.969.3181
Monday-Saturday 9:30am-9:30pm
Sunday 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Ticket purchases end one hour prior to closing*
Cash Only Accepted for Ticket Sales
Service Charge - $.50 per ticket

Be-Bop Record Shop
3403 Pemberton Square Blvd.
Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180
Ph: 601.619.9900
Monday-Saturday 9:30am-9:30pm
Sunday 12:00 noon-6:00pm
Ticket purchases end one hour prior to closing*
Cash Only Accepted for Ticket Sales
Service Charge - $.50 per ticket

M&F Bank
295 Highway 51
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Ph: 601.957.5710
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm
Friday 8:30am-6:00pm

M&F Bank
732 Lake Harbour Drive
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Ph: 601.853.3814
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm
Friday 8:30am-6:00pm

M&F Bank
295 Highway 51
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Ph: 601.957.5710
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm
Friday 8:30am-6:00pm

M&F Bank
966 Highway 51
Madison, MS 39110
Ph: 601.957.5700
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm
Friday 8:30am-6:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-Noon

M&F Bank
1600 Highland Colony Parkway
Madison, MS 39110
Ph: 601.605.6700
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm
Friday 8:30am-6:00pm

Tickets may be purchased at the front gate of the festival the day of the event.  All guests 2 years old and older will be required to pay the admission before entering the festival grounds.  Cash, Check, Visa and Mastercard will be accepted for ticket purchases the day of the festival.

ATM:
There will be an ATM on the festival grounds.  There will be a $3.00 service charge per transaction.

SOUVENIRS:
There will be KidFest! Ridgeland t-shirts and other souvenirs available for sale on the festival grounds. 

FESTIVAL FOOD:
No outside food or drinks permitted on the festival grounds.
There will be several professional food concessionaires selling delicious festival food and refreshing drinks. All food and drink sales are CASH only.  No checks or credit cards will be accepted at the food booths. There will be a dining tent with picnic tables located across from the Food Court for our guests to use.

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