A ‘World of Arts’ at Children’s Festival

About 8,000 to 10,000 people are expected Saturday for the fourth annual Anaheim Children’s Festival, a daylong event celebrating music, painting, dance and other cultural arts.

Admission, parking and most activities are free at the downtown event, which is presented by the city of Anaheim and the Anaheim Arts Council. The theme is “World of Arts.”

“We want families, especially, to come and experience the art in an unintimidating fashion--that’s what it’s all about,” event spokeswoman Janet Brown said.

Among the activities will be docent-led tours of outdoor artworks created by Daniel Martinez, Nobi Nagasawa and Buster Simpson.

“It’s real whimsical stuff,” Brown said, such as a giant anvil with a 15-foot-high concrete hammer, and a wooden silhouette of a head with its “nose to the grindstone.”

There also will be a gallery-style display of artwork created by local schoolchildren, an opening parade, international storytellers, a Dixieland jazz band, roving musicians, a puppet play and various hands-on craft activities for children.

Also featured will be Aztec, German and Polish folk dancing, international foods, carnival games, science and nature exhibits, and performances of scenes from “The Pajama Game” and “Annie” musicals.

The children’s festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on West Harbor Place between Harbor and Anaheim boulevards.

Information: (714) 254-4360.