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Children’s Festival graces Britt Gardens once more By Mail Tribune Editorial Board Jul 10, 2022 12:00 AM A A The headlines these days can seem full of mayhem that never seems to stop. But take heart, for there is really good news right here in Southern Oregon: The Children’s Festival is back. If you’ve never been, it’s worth a look, even if you don’t have children. If you do have children or grandchildren, don’t miss it. The festival began humbly in 1967 as a two-day storytelling program put on by the Storytelling Guild. It drew 500 children and was considered a resounding success. After 55 years of Children’s Festivals, attendance has hit as many as 10,000. The festival takes over the Britt Festival grounds in Jacksonville for three days of fun and frolic — all for an admission price of $3 a person. The ticket price includes all activities, ranging from arts, crafts and science projects to kid-focused entertainment on the Britt stage. Musicians, dancers, martial arts and more are on the schedule. See https://tinyurl.com/3h87fpj5 for the full schedule. The litter and recycling dragons, Rosabelle and Pebbles, are a huge hit with the younger set who get to talk to the dragons while feeding them trash and recyclables. All that, plus face painting, puppets, leather craft, carpentry, tie-dye, origami and more. And, of course, storytelling of all kinds. The annual extravaganza was on partial hiatus for the past two years because of the pandemic, but guild members still managed to hold smaller events at local libraries. This weekend, the full festival is back in business, thanks to a great deal of hard work by many dedicated volunteers. That unheard-of $3 admission (you can’t get a coffee for that anymore) is made possible by donations to the nonprofit Storytelling Guild. You can support their work at https://bit.ly/3I8lIfS . If you missed Saturday’s festival, there’s time to make it to today’s event, from 4:30-8:30 p.m., or Monday, when the hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Children’s Festival has been a summer tradition for generations of Rogue Valley families. It’s good news indeed to see it back in action.