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Event returns to Downtown Schenectady on Saturday, September 25
(SCHENECTADY, NY – September 21, 2021) – More than 30 groups will come together to celebrate the theme of “CommUNITY” during the 2021 Schenectady Kids’ Arts Festival. The event takes place on Saturday, September 25, from Noon to 4 p.m. along the Jay Street Marketplace and around City Hall in Downtown Schenectady. Normally attracting more than 3,000 kids with their families, the festival brings free hands-on arts activities and performances—with lots of learning along the way—to children across the Capital Region.
“This year, we have a great mix of golden-oldie favorite art activities and new ones that let our imaginations soar,” said Betsy Sandberg, chair of Kids’ Arts Festival, which this year celebrates its 27th anniversary. “Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra will bring their arts-in-education program to Downtown Schenectady thanks to funding from The Upstate Coalition for a FairGame, which supports arts and cultural organizations in three New York State casino regions.” That program begins at 3 p.m. on the stage in front of Schenectady City Hall on Jay Street.
“First we will explain the various Afro-Caribbean instruments such as congas, bongos, and maracas,” said musician Alex Torres. “Our band will then perform three songs in the styles of salsa, merengue and cha-cha; afterwards, we will bring up seven kids at a time to play a few bars of music.” Torres promised, “We will continue until we get all the kids up on stage. If we are done with the kids before the scheduled time, then we’ll perform more music.”
Sandberg noted that having kids up on stage to perform with Torres’ Grammy-nominated band was long a dream of Karen B. Johnson. Johnson—former Mayor of Schenectady, County Legislator, and longtime community volunteer, who passed away in 2019—founded the festival along with Janet Hutchison, Joan Gould and the late Eli Taub.
Other imaginative performers and student groups are booked to entertain the crowds, including the Rock Camp Kids from Universal Preservation Hall, the Electric City Puppets, Dueling Saxophones, and Dance Me Elite performers. A poster contest offers $100 prizes in three age groups. Happiness is the contest’s theme, and official entry forms and plenty of supplies for drawing will be available at Electric City Art Gallery, 160 Jay Street.
“During the height of the pandemic in 2020, the Kids’ Arts Festival got extra creative by providing four hours of virtual arts programming, which reached thousands of young viewers,” said Jim Salengo, executive director of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, one of the festival’s major sponsors. “This year, we are so happy to welcome thousands of attendees back to downtown to enjoy this popular event again in person.” Other major event sponsors are MVP Health Care, Stewart’s Shops, The Schenectady Foundation and the Schenectady County Legislature.
The rain location will be inside the Proctors performing arts center. All required COVID safety protocols will be in place if the event moves indoors.
A complete list of activities, entertainment and sponsors are on the festival website at kidsartsfestivalschenectady.com. Franklin and Jay streets around Schenectady City Hall will be closed to traffic and parking during the festival. Complimentary parking is available along nearby streets, in public parking lots, and at the Broadway garage. For parking locations and information, visit parkschenectady.com.