Harborfest Welcomes Families to Play at Novelis Family Park

The Novelis Family (Children’s) Park has long provided activities and entertainment for families during Harborfest. Family fun continues this year at the park located at Franklin Square (West) Park at W. 4th St. in Oswego. The park is sponsored by Novelis and this year’s theme is “Treasure Island.”

Chena Tucker, chairperson of the Harborfest Children’s Committee, has many ideas and high hopes for the park. She believes that by having activities that involve science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.), children will have a better understanding of everything they are capable of doing.

She added, “We will also have AmeriCorps member Daisy Ruiz at the park to educate children and parents about the things they can do to live a healthier lifestyle. This is something that Oswego County has been struggling with for some time; ranking last among New York State’s 62 counties in 2014.”

Teaching children and their parents how to make healthier choices about nutrition and fitness falls under the mission of the Oswego AmeriCorps program, which is to serve county youth by mentoring, providing nutrition education and fitness activities, and management of volunteers who work with youth.

“Daisy will have activities for the children to keep them active and learning about healthier eating habits,” said Tucker.

Children’s programming kicks off with the Children’s Gala runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m., rain or shine, on Tuesday, July 22 at the Breitbeck Park Food Court. Sponsored by the SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations, this year’s gala features the theme “A Day at the Beach” and offers a variety of activities for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Admission for the gala is $5 per person and includes food and activities.

Children’s activities at the Novelis Family (Children’s) Park during the festival include games, face painting, science experiments, LEGO construction, arts and crafts, interactive displays and workshops, and horse rides with Wilmer Farms.

Several t-shirt workshops are planned. The first is scheduled during the Children’s Gala. Two more will be held from at the Breitbeck Park Pavilion from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23 and from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 24. The final three will be held at the Novelis Family (Children’s) Park from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday; and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Children can bring their own white t-shirts or purchase one on-site for $5.

The t-shirts can be worn in the annual children’s parade which begins at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25. Sponsored by Oswego Health and The Palladium-Times, the parade welcomes children of all ages to join in the processional which leaves Breitbeck Park and travels along Lake Street to W. 5th St. and finishes at the Novelis Family (Children’s) Park.

The children’s musical this year is “Peter Pan: The Musical” and features nearly 50 local children. The show begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 25; 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26; and 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 27 at the Novelis Family (Children’s) Park.

Children’s entertainment at the park features Doug Rougeux: The Bubbling, Juggling Mime; Wade Live; TaeKwonDo America: Bully Busting Program; The Marionette Magic Theatre; Sylvia Fletcher: ‘The Magic Trunk’ Ventriloquist; Catskill Puppets; Dan the Snakeman; “The Show of Love” with Joe Trionfero; and “Oswego’s Got Talent” show and competition.

Additional sponsors for children’s programming include Entergy Nuclear, Central & Northern NY Building & Construction Trades Council; Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 73; NBT Bank; SUNY Oswego Small Business Development Center; Oswego City-County Youth Bureau, and the Oswego Children’s Board.

For a complete schedule of children’s activities, go to www.oswegoharborfest.com and click on the Children’s Events page under the Acts and Events tab.