Cultural Festival Offers More Than Child’s Play

Knott’s Berry Farm’s regular attractions may seem more than enough of a lure for children in search of a good time. Today, however, they are gilding the lily with the Children’s Cultural Festival, a farm-wide celebration of special shows and music that will benefit the Children’s Museum of La Habra, the Orange County Philharmonic Society and the South Coast Repertory.

The Southern California Chinese Folk Dancers will entertain at 11 a.m. at the Wagon Camp, followed by Dai-on Taiko, a Japanese drumming group. Both will perform in full costume.

At the Wilderness Ballroom, the Kreps Marionettes take the stage at 11:30 a.m., followed by mime-puppeteer-comedian Ruben Gerard at 1 p.m., storyteller-musician John Yeiser at 2 and the Cloggers dance troupe at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Addressing Peer Pressure

The South Coast Repertory’s original play, “When I Grow Up,” which addresses peer pressure and career problems from a child’s perspective, will be presented in the Cloud 9 ballroom at 3 p.m. An art workshop will be set up on Market Street in Ghost Town, and a Music Mobile stationed at Calico Square will demonstrate how music tells a story.

Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; park hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visitors may obtain special tickets ($13.95 for adults, $11.95 for children 3-11--a savings of $4-$6) by asking for Children’s Festival tickets at the Knott’s box office. These tickets are good for unlimited use of park attractions plus all special activities--more than most could handle in a day. Information: (714) 827-1776.