Beckley’s 21st Annual Kids Classic Festival is a week-long festival offering a variety of family activities throughout the community. The theme for this year is Grow with us – celebrating agriculture, farming and gardening.
During the week of the festival, Leisure Lanes will offer one free game of bowling and shoe rental per child when accompanied by an adult Tuesday, September 2 – Saturday, September 6. Please call for lane availability – 304-253-7328. Kids can eat free at Dickey’s BBQ with adult purchase Tuesday, September 2 – Saturday, September 6. The Uptown Farmers Market will host activities during its regular market hours on Wednesday, September 3 from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Several events are planned for Friday, September 5 including “Tweet about It” at the Raleigh County Library – learn about the birds, decorate a birdhouse, create your own feathered friend; go on a scavenger hunt; and earn a set of pocket binoculars to take home. Enjoy the fun between 9:30am – 4:30pm at the library located at 221 North Kanawha Street in Beckley. .
Also on Friday, a Baby Fair and Pretty Baby Contest will take place from 11 am-1 pm at Word Park on Neville Street with vendors, stroller decorating contest and more.
On Friday evening, the Youth Museum & Exhibition Mine will host the festival from 6:00 to 8:30 pm with an opportunity for visitors to meet-n-greet Clifford the Big Red Dog courtesy of WV Public Broadcasting. Funnybones will make balloon animals at the amphitheatre. Several special planetarium presentations will take place in the museum’s planetarium and visitors can enjoy and explore the Youth Museum’s current exhibit “Moneyville.” Also, special underground mine tours will be available at the Exhibition Coal Mine; and karaoke and dancing can be enjoyed at the mine plaza. The festival rate for the complex admission during the evening of September 5th is $5.
On Saturday, September 6th, be sure to visit the Uptown Kids Fair from 10 am to 2 pm. Some of the highlights of the fair include the United Games Arcade which spans the parking area at United Bank and along Fayette Street. With games and activities such as the dunking booth, money machine, golf putting, fishing booth, prize wheel, bounce house & more, the arcade is designed so that participants purchase tickets to play games (game ticket card = $6, or half card = $3). By playing games, children win tickets to redeem for prizes. Proceeds from the arcade benefit local charities. The arcade is open on Saturday, September 6th from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. – the ticket booth closes at 2 p.m.
Booths will line Main Street and Shoemaker Square during the Saturday Kids Fair from 10 am – 2 pm with such favorites as the Beckley Fire Department’s fire safety house, and Junior Firefighters’ Challenge Course. Various organizations and businesses set-up booths and offer games, information and/or food.
The Kids Classic Parade features numerous children’s characters, festival royalty, walking units, and floats. A special “Founders Trophy” (in honor of Madrith Chambers) will be awarded to the Best Float. The parade theme for this year is Grow with us … Agriculture / Farming / Gardening. The Parade Grand Marshal will be Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick. Following the parade, there will be a car show at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway hosted by Gold Rush Flea Market from noon – 3 pm.
Also after the parade, Mia Bailey (Kids Take Nashville) & Chloe Florence will perform at the stage at Main & Kanawha Street. Plus, the School of Harmony Music Bus will be open for tours on Heber Street. The Raleigh Theatre plans to show a movie “Babe” at 2:15 pm, 4:15 pm & 7:15 pm. Admission is $5.
The Raleigh County Memorial Airport is also hosting family fun on September 6 including free planes rides for ages 6 to 16 only. Please pre-register by calling the airport.
Saturday, Sept 6th, evening activities move to the Beckley Little League area as Groovy 94.1 steps up to the plate to play host to this year’s home run derby at the Kids Classic Festival. Wrap up a full day of Kids Classic activities at this an all-American home run derby open to age divisions from youth to adults! Groovy 94.1 will also be broadcasting the WVU Game at the Beckley Little League Fields, so you won’t miss a minute of the action! $5.00 Entry fee per person with 1/2 off the fee going back to your age division so you have a chance to win cash money!
The Beckley Area Derby Dames will have a home roller derby match on September 6th at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center beginning at 7 p.m. Kids under 12 can attend free with a paying adult.
A fireworks display will be presented at 9:00 p.m. by Pyrotechnico.
Hamster Races and a Pet Pageant will be held on Sunday, September 7th at the Youth Museum of Southern WV. Hamster Races (free) start at 1pm (bring your own or one can be supplied one for you!) and Pet Pageant ($5 per entry) registration will start at 2:15pm. Open to all domestic animals – cats, dogs, bunnies, chickens, small house pigs……please no large farm animals, spiders or snakes. For more information, contact Betty Burns at 304-252-4769 or at email pagntcrzy@yahoo.com
For more festival details, call 304-256-1776 or the specific event hosts or like “Beckley Events” on Facebook.
