When youngsters turn up on the shores...

When youngsters turn up on the shores of Manhattan Beach today, they’ll find more than sand and surf to capture their fancy.

They’ll be able to paint, draw, make kites and dabble in crafts.

A puppet circus will entertain with clowns, animal acts, a daredevil and a blustery barker, and there will be songs and stories from around the world.

“The beach is a natural venue, it attracts a bunch of people, and we wanted to do something specifically for the kids,” said Howard Spector, administrator of the city’s Public Arts Program, which will stage the first Children’s Art Festival on the beach from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Bringing art to community members is a crucial goal of the program and the festival is designed to provide these experiences in an amusing way for children of all ages,” he said.

Festival grounds, complete with a stage and tent, will be a 100-yard stretch of beach north of the Manhattan Beach Pier at the foot of 13th Street. Several tables will be set up to provide hands-on art experiences for youngsters between entertainment groups.

Songs and stories by the J. P. Nightingale group will begin the program. The Minikin Puppet Theater’s “Barnum and Baloney Side Show” rolls in at noon, featuring ventriloquists, hand puppets and marionettes. Several acts move into the audience, giving youngsters a chance to participate in the show.

Late Breaking Muse will round out the festival at 4 p.m. by taking a humorous look at environmental problems. Spector said the performance group encourages youngsters to think about ways they can improve their world.

Spector said he hopes the day will show children that “cultural activities and performances are important to their well-being”--and a lot of fun as well.