Round up the family and enjoy music, theater, dance, arts, crafts, and more at the 29th annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival, which runs through Saturday, May 4, at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

On Thursday, May 2, don’t miss the one-night-only program featuring the musical duo Trout Fishing in America at a special 7 p.m. concert that will be broadcast live on WXPN as part of the Kids Corner 25th anniversary celebration. National Public Radio calls Trout Fishing in America “the Lennon and McCartney of kids’ music.”  

Other performances offered multiple times throughout the festival include the Perth Theatre Company’s “The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer,” Theatre Lovett’s “The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly,” C!RCA’s “46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes,” and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s “A Brown Bear, a Moon, and a Caterpillar: Treasured Stories by Eric Carle.”

“There is a little bit of something for everyone during the festival, a nice variety of experiences that make the event perfect for children of all ages,” says Sarah Fergus, marketing and communications manager for the Annenberg Center. “As the Children’s Festival approaches its fourth decade, we continue to celebrate its original mission—to foster a love of arts and culture in our young people, because it is so vitally important.”   

All ticket holders can enjoy the Children’s Festival FUN ZONE on the Annenberg Center Outdoor Plaza, where families will find a variety of whimsical, interactive activities, such as crafts and face painting, as well as performances by dancers, musicians, magicians, and jugglers. The FUN ZONE opens at 10 a.m. daily.

Tickets are $10 for each performance, but families attending the festival on Saturday can purchase a Children’s Festival Fun Pass and enjoy three shows, access to the Children’s Festival FUN ZONE, and a lunch for only $25.

In addition, $5 tickets are available to West Philadelphia residents two hours before each performance begins, as part of the PNC West Philly Rush Hour. Proof of residency is required. 

Attracting more than 15,000 children each year, the Philadelphia International Children’s Festival was founded in 1985 by Catherine “Kaki” Marshall to provide Philadelphia-area families with an easy and affordable way to experience the artistry of international performance and visual arts. It was the first of its kind in the country.  

Additional information is available at the Annenberg Center website.