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About Children's Festival What : Children's Festival Where : Britt Gardens, Jacksonville When : July 11 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.; July 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to noon and 6-8:30 p.m.; July 14 from 9 a.m. to noon Cost : $2 for admission and participation in all activities. Food costs extra. Theme : Quest for Adventure New booth : Stamp World Queen selected for Jacksonville event By KELLY STEWART A Medford woman will rule as queen over thousands of children and adults, if only for a few days next month. Mary Strahm will preside over the 33rd annual Children's Festival, scheduled for July 11 to 14 at the Britt Gardens in Jacksonville. Two princesses will assist Strahm at her post at the front gate of the gardens. She will "knight" and "lady" passing boys and girls, who may then sign the queen's guest book. Strahm will wear a white robe, purple cape and jeweled, medieval-style crown. A pink sash, listing past Children's Festival queens, will be draped across her shoulders. Traditionally, the queen opens and closes each festival session. "This is a high honor," Strahm said. "I'm very thrilled." Often, children are awed when they see the queen at the festival's entrance, said Lynn Kellogg, a co-director of the Children's Festival this year. "All the children can visit her," Kellogg said. "For some of these kids, she is a real queen." Strahm has been involved with the Storytelling Guild for nine years. The guild sponsors the Children's Festival each year along with Jackson County Library Services. A committee made up of the Storytelling Guild president, the Children's Festival directors, the festival adviser and previous festival queens selects each year's queen. Strahm is excited to be a part of the Children's Festival again this year. "I have such a strong belief in literacy in the community," she said. The Children's Festival funds the Storytelling Guild committees, which promote literacy in part by encouraging parents to read to their children. Strahm's three children have been enjoying the Children's Festival for years. "They all grew up there," Strahm said. "Even my 14-year-old son. He always finds something to do there." This year, Strahm's son Christopher will be working as a volunteer. Her 9-year-old daughter, Kayla, will stand as one of the festival princesses. And 12-year-old Kendra will be free to roam the grounds. The Children's Festival offers 40 activities for kids, Kellogg said. Grade-schoolers can be tempted by 16 booths of arts and crafts activities. For preschool-aged children, 11 booths are featured in Mother Goose Land. Science booths are available for children of all ages. "Kids who are 16 or 19 still come," Kellogg said. "They drive themselves to the Children's Festival." Groups including Chip Wright's Champion Karate and Cyl-ebrity Dance Center will kick up their heels on the Britt stage. Clowns, musicians and other wandering entertainers will traverse the gardens. Other features include an animal farm/petting zoo, storytelling tree and trash-eating dragons. About 5,000 people attend the Children's Festival each year, Strahm said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA