Kids being kids

By Ed Merrison
FESTIVAL organisers have put a smile on kids’ faces and a new date on the hills calendar.
The second ever kidfest almost doubled its first-year crowd and scored a resounding success with parents and children alike on Sunday, 29 October.
Event manager Claire Ferres-Miles estimated about 2000 people descended upon the Upwey Recreation Reserve to join in the fun.
“It was a great community festival with a great feel – relaxed and cheerful, with lots of cheap and free things,” she said.
All rides on the day cost $2.50 and children needed little encouragement to get involved in the free kidfest games.
These included a range of old-fashioned novelty races such as egg and spoon, three-legged, piggyback and sack, plus parachute games and welly throwing.
“It was great to see all those games again, played in a great spirit and getting everyone together,” Ms Ferres-Miles said.
The children also got some hands-on experience of cow milking and butter making, and showed their fearless side in handling the slithering serpents of reptile experts Snakebusters.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn, who last year sat on the festival committee, said the kidfest games produced hilarious moments and the children were “well and truly enthusiastic” throughout the day.
“It’s terrific to have a children’s event on this side of the mountain and this is another step on the way to cementing kidfest’s place on the calendar,” she said.