The Victorian Chautauqua is for everyone, including kids. The Kid-Tauqua programming takes place under the Deaconess tent all day Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, with activities and live performances tailored especially for them. The weekend of kid’s programming is made possible by a generous contribution from Samantha Funding The Arts.

The family-friendly weekend will keep the little ones occupied with teeshirt tie-dying, special crafts, face-painting, bubble fun, storytime, and live musical performances. Beyond the designated Kid-Tauqua programs, families will enjoy seeing the Model T car showcase with authentic vehicles from the early 1900s. Certain drivers will even be offering memorable rides in vintage style. A fun tour of historic Mountain Lake Park on the Town Trolley is a great way to take a relaxing break while learning about life before the automobile, electricity, and indoor plumbing. Kids will also enjoy seeing a high-wheel rider on an early style of bicycle once used for transportation and sport. There are also delectable treats and unforgettable hand-pressed lemonade.

Thank you to Samantha Funding The Arts

Samantha Gibson was just 21 years old when she passed away on December 9, 2012, due to a car accident. Her passion for the visual arts, photography, and music was present in everything she touched. To honor Sam and keep her memory vibrant, this foundation was created to nurture the arts in our children, our schools, and our community!

Set up as an interactive experience, children can meet and greet performers, ask questions, and often join in. From singalongs to tall tales, youngsters will be left with lasting memories of the Victorian Chautauqua.

Various musical performances include The Bright Siders, a unique musical collaboration between Nashville-based Americana songwriter Kristin Andreassen and Brooklyn-based child psychiatrist Kari Groff, MD. Together, they create music to help children connect to their emotions. Francis “Ranger Champ” Zumbrun will return with his musical brother Keith to lead a traditional campfire singalong. Their song classics include everyone’s unforgettable favorites. Other programs include storytime, Puppets & Play, by Dr. JoAnn Dadison, and musical guest Sally dhruva’ Stephenson. Kevin Dodge will introduce children to the wonders of wildlife that emerge after dark, titled Hoots, Toots, Peents & Peeps, and Garrett County’s award-winning FIRST team will present an amazing robotics demonstration.

Some of the adult programs can also capture the imaginations of younger children. The West Liberty University World Music Ensemble will present an interactive workshop on African music and dance, followed by a lively steel drum concert. Crankies utilizes shadow puppetry to tell stories in an unusual and artful way, and the widely acclaimed Ted Yoder Band offers broad appeal with a contemporary twist on hammered dulcimer, marimba, bass, and drums. Making time for the violin and piano concert is an opportunity to expose youngsters to a classical musical experience, which will also feature Dale Stuckenbruck playing an ordinary hand saw with a bow.

Historical performances will also keep the attention of young, developing minds. Theatrical presentations of influential figures from the past are a perfect way to learn without it feeling like school. The whole family can leave with plenty to talk about and a yearning to return next year.

Families will also enjoy visiting the Historic Ticket Office and Museum. It was once a companion building, the 5,000-seat open Bashford Amphitheater. Travel through time by looking at Victorian photographs, postcards, and artifacts. Attendants will be on hand to answer any questions about life at the turn of the last century.