For children and their families, the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival presented by Ordway is a multi-day experience where wonder and imagination wait around every corner. Children will be swept away on adventures that explore new worlds, diverse cultures, and powerful heritages.
Now in its 17th year, it is one of the largest events of its kind in the country. More than 50,000 people attend the Festival each year between School Week and the Family Weekend. The festival features local, regional and international professional artists representing more than 25 countries on seven indoor and outdoor stages. The festival also promotes arts accessibility, with most events being free and indoor performances being only $8.00 per ticket in advance.
This year, tickets to all indoor performances at the 2017 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival are “Pay What You Can.” Tickets for indoor shows will be available the day of the performance on a first-come, first-serve basis and are subject to availability. Those who purchase $8.00 tickets in advance are guaranteed admission. Tickets are now on sale for Native Pride Dancers presents Ketti Nimiko!, The Flying Foot Forum’s The Mystery of the Pig’s Eye Manor, Gugu Drum Group, and The Way Back Home by Denmark’s Theater Refleksion. The Way Back Home features a new sensory-friendly Family Weekend performance on Sunday, June 4 at 12 p.m.
Family Weekend
During the family weekend, downtown Saint Paul comes alive with family-friendly events! The parks around the Ordway fill with free arts activities, art exhibits and performances on the Festival’s two outdoor stages and in the surrounding parks…all for free! On stages in and around the Ordway, performing artists from around the world take to the stage for two full days of shows for only $8.00 a person.
Between performances, Family Weekend Festival-goers can enjoy free entertainment and art-making activities in the surrounding parks, including the Ordway, Rice Park, Spire Credit Union Fun Zone and Xcel Energy Family Plaza:
- More than 100 free outdoor performances by almost 600 local artists and groups representing cultural traditions from around the world. Performances will take place on the Flint Hills World Music Stage and the Xcel Energy World Dance Stage.
- Folktales from across the globe as told by Twin Cities storytellers in the Story Time Corner, which is inside the Ordway building this year.
- Also as part of the Story Time Corner, a musical instrument petting zoo with Congolese musician, Siama, and, new this year, Kid’s Yoga by 1,000 Petals Yoga Studio.
- The Clear Channel Outdoor ARTwalk, a walking tour through downtown St. Paul highlighting hundreds of pieces of art created by young people.
- Art-making activities from 21 different arts, cultural and educational organizations from around the Twin Cities.
- Located inside the Ordway, “The Touch of Sound,” an interactive audio installation featuring the sounds of the Galapagos Islands.
- An art exhibition, “Gathering of Contemporary Indigenous Artists,” curated by Gordon Coons (Ojibwa/Ottawa), will be in the Ordway lobbies.
- A lunch time dance party with local DJ’s spinning tunes in the Ordway lobby.
- Dozens of family-friendly activities such as face painting, balloon artists, henna tattoos, juggling, dance lessons and more!
Bring your family out for a weekend full of fun! This is a summer event you and your family will not want to miss!
