Kids & Families

Shakori Hills is great for families! The festival is a rich, interactive experience for children of all ages, with several special activities for kids throughout the weekend. Sponsored by the Chatham County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council.

Near the heart of the festival grounds is the Kid’s Zone. Hands-on art projects, performances, group activities, story telling, face painting, a climbing wall and a Sunday afternoon parade! The kids village is organized by fun and creative festival volunteers. Interested in helping? Click here.

Exploring the farm is encouraged for older children — parents know they can depend on a nurturing, attentive festival staff and community to keep a watchful eye.

Camping families can choose to settle down in our quiet camping zone, a peaceful cove that is perfect for, well, quiet camping! Ask at the ticket booth when you check in.

Youth tickets (ages 13-15) are available at a reduced price, and kids 12 and under get in free!

Children’s Activities

Seedlings & Sprouts
For families with kids age 10 and under. This spring look forward to classes in planting, tie dye, building, faerie-wing-making, clowning, hooping, dancing and so much more. Come to story-time and play in the sand pile. Make-and-take crafts and travel games are back again this spring! Be sure to check the web site under “Kids and Families” for the updated schedules, activities and wish lists. Kids’ Tent: Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 9:30am-6pm; Sunday 9:30am-4pm
Family Games Night, Thursday 4:30pm-7:30pm
Shakori Bingo, Saturday 5:30pm-7pm

Kids’ Arts & Crafts Bizarre
Calling all kids 15 and under – Spread out your blanket and sell your own hand-made arts and crafts. Check at the kids’ tent for more information. Register & Setup: Kids Tent, Sunday 9:30am; Vending: Sunday 10am – Noon

Sol Driven Train
A mix of southern rock, languid world-beat, swampy funk and downright catchy melodies….with horns! Check out their family & children’s show early, then catch them later on the Grove Stage. Children’s show: Cabaret Tent, Thursday 5:30pm

Asylum Street Spankers
Before their grown-up set, check out this band from Austin, Texas, playing songs from their children’s album “Mommy Says No!” You’ll hear songs with musical saws, wistful wailing about wanting to be a super hero’s “Sidekick,” and “Don’t Turn Out the Light,” about the all-too-familiar fear of monsters in the dark. Children’s Show: Cabaret Tent, Saturday 2:30pm

Lightnin’ Wells
Join Lightnin’ Wells’ as he performs music from his fifth CD release, “Jump Little Children: Old Songs For Young Folks.” Lightnin’ draws from the musical wellsprings of America’s past to create a varied program of blues, old-time tunes, vaudeville, folk, and just plain silliness geared to the younger listener. The musical accompaniment is as varied as the song material itself, featuring guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, ukulele, and “fun” instruments such as kazoo. Cabaret Tent, Sunday 1:30pm

Red Herring Puppets
See our world from the fresh perspective of the alien puppet, Rowby, who is visiting plant Earth. Rowby guides your journey through familiar folklore in the streets of Paris to the Himalayan Mountains and on to Scotland to see a Celtic Jack & the Beanstalk. Cabaret Tent, Saturday 1pm

Clowning Around
All ages (4+) are welcome to join AcroEntertainment and learn the basics of clowning! We will start with a group warm-up and stretch, followed by work with balls, masks, and of course, red noses! Learn about hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, creative body expression, and audience engagement. At the end, we’ll cover a few basic partner balancing poses and cool down as a group. Bring an adult along with you. Kids Tent, Friday 4pm

Kindermusik
For children age 0-3 (and their parents). Join in and sing, dance and play some rhythm instruments. The Kindermusik philosophy is that music influences all areas of a child’s development. Led by Rebecca Dyck, a Kindermusik “Maestro Educator” for 12 years and director of children’s choirs at University Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. www.musicwithrebecca.kindermusik.net Cabaret Tent, Saturday 10am

Compost Theatre
Compost…what?? See, it’s got you thinking and laughing already… COMPOST THEATRE will dazzle you with skits, songs, dance and puppet friends while you are inspired to become the best composter you can be! Definitely fun for all ages! We dare anyone not to smirk, smile and giggle while you learn about nature’s favorite way of recycling. Cabaret Tent, Saturday 11:30am

Create Community…and Hoops!
Join local hoop dancer Jewels for a hands-on hoop making experience. In this playshop, we will create hoops for community. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to make hoops, stylize them and feel the joy of offering something to enhance the festival for everyone. www.hoopdrum.com Kids Tent, Friday 5pm

Mother Goose
Mother Goose will be visiting Shakori Hills again! Dr. Laura Janelle Royster’s Mother Goose combines educational theatre with fun, fun, fun! Come play along with Mother
Goose and special musical guest stars from her special curriculum I Feel Better With Music! This magical experience is for children of all ages. Cabaret Tent, Friday 2pm

Spread Your Musical Wings
The Angel Band Foundation will share music education with our growing youth here at Shakori Hills! We will bring together musicians of all ages, experience and instruments to create a magical, musical atmosphere! 45-minute workshops feature: Sing-a-long-song, world instrument introductions, rhythm/percussion experiments and Appalachian folk music. We will stimulate individual growth and group jam sessions. Bring your children and any fun-time instruments they favor to play and share, or use any of our wide variety of instruments. Come Spread Your Musical Wings with The Angel Band Foundation and witness the musicians of tomorrow! Children under 10 at the Sustainability Pavilion: Saturday 3:30pm; Ages 10+ at The Outpost, Saturday 11am

Elementary Dance
Children ages 0-9. Have some fun dancing with Debbie Cook. Debbie just retired after teaching 26 years in the NC public schools. She is certified in K-6 Education and K-12 Dance Education. Thirteen of Debbie’s 26 year public school career was spent teaching dance in grades kindergarten through 8th. Debbie offers dance classes at the Rivermill in Saxapahaw. Elementary-Dance.com Cabaret Tent, Friday 10am

Louise Omoto Kessel & Friends Storytelling
Louise’s stories wave humor and spirit. Rivers speak, an elderly woman sights an angel out near her backyard barbeque pit, rocks sing, a small boy helps an elderly neighbor find her lost memories. The stories reflect our experience and bring us to a feeling that we share this journey of being human together. Join Louise for a special “Bedtime Story” performance, too! Bedtime Stories: Kids Tent, Friday 7:30pm; Regular Performance: Cabaret Tent, Sunday 11:15am

Family Music Games
Join Barbara Wright and musical guests for some fun family game time! All ages are invited to put their whole selves in for cooperative circle games, a barnyard dance, musical not-so-squares, the Virginia Reel Fun and more. Cabaret Tent, Friday 11am

Sing-a-long Songs with Stuart
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! Polish your golden pipes, because it’s time to sing. Join songwriter Stuart McNair in singing some classic tunes from North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, and beyond. Lyics provided. Just bring a voice and a smile! Cabaret Tent, Friday 12:30pm

HoopJam – Parade Pep Rally!
Engage the senses ~ Exercise the bodymind ~ Enliven the soul. Join Jewels & Scott Crews for a hoop jam prior to Earth Day Celebration Parade! Scott will bring percussive instruments and Jewels will bring the community hoops. If you have your own hoop or drum, bring it on! Hoop jam welcomes all ages! www.hoopdrum.com Near the Kids’ Area, Saturday 1:30pm

Earth Day & Dance Celebration Parade
What a wonderful planet!! Dress up in costumes, don your masks, grab your noisemakers and come along on a magical musical tour through the festival grounds! Paperhand Pup-pet Intervention and Red Herring Puppet Troupe team up with YOU! in the parade celebrating this place where we live – Earth! Meet at the Kids’ Area, Saturday 2pm

The Outpost

Area for young people. Check out the schedule in the program, or just stop by and see what’s happening! Attend a hip hop or instrument workshop, play your song in the Open Jam Session, paint on the graffiti board, play human fooze ball or just hang out, read and play board games. Activities and area geared for people ages 10 to young adult. Friday through Sunday, 11am – 6pm

Open Jam Session
We’ve got the sound equipment and drum kit. Bring your instruments and get ready to rock out! Everyone is welcome to participate or just listen, Daygot Leeyos hosts this spring’s teen open mic. The Outpost, Saturday 8pm

Circus Fundamentals
All skill levels are welcome (8+) to join AcroEntertainment and learn circus fundamentals! We will start with a group warm up and stretch, then move in to the basics of juggling, plate spinning, acrobatics, and tight rope walking. This workshop is great for developing hand eye coordination, concentration, balance and creative expression. Please bring an adult for permission. The Outpost, Sunday 12pm

Big Kid Games
Human fooze ball, elbow tag, Ah-wa, The Evolution Game……never heard of any of this before? Neither have we! Stop by and play a few rounds of these and other creative interactive games. The Outpost, Friday 2pm, Saturday 3:30pm, Sunday 3pm

Collective Voices with Daygot Leeyos
Come and join us while we create a song together! Bring your instruments, your creativity and a blank cd (or use one of ours). We will collectively make a song together to share with our loved ones! Workshop intended for all ages. The Outpost, Saturday 3pm

Hip Hop Dance
Come and jump in! Sydney Vigatov will teach a series of short routines in hip-hop-pop dance! Sydney is a classically trained ballet dancer who has broadened her dance repertoire. Her current activities include choreographing music videos and working in film. The Outpost, Saturday 5pm

Girls Rock NC
Creativity, Confidence and Community. That’s what Girls Rock NC is all about. Empowering girls to use their voice as their instrument, teaching musicianship, distilling the fear of performing and raising awareness for girls of all ages. Performance at The Outpost, Sunday 2pm