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
Supervised area for children up to ages 9 or 10. Activities include face painting, bubbles, drawing and crafts with creative re-use materials. Little ones and parents stop by the new seedling corner for relaxing play-time, and check out the schedule posted in the tent for new activities, see some listed below! Kids’ Tent, Friday & Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, Sunday 10 am - 4 pm

The Outpost
New this festival! Young people’s area. Stop in and see what’s happening! Crafting, art, discussion, poetry and open jam sessions. Schedule posted in the tent, see some activities list below.

Scheduled Kids Activities- in kids tent and @ The Outpost

Storytelling with Ms. Suz
Suzanne Robinson is a storyteller who was born and raised in those wonderful West Virginia hills. She tells stories every other Friday in Bynum as part of the Bynum Front Porch Music Series. This will be her first year at Shakori where she will be sharing peace tales, and Native American and Celtic tales. Kid’s Tent, Saturday, 2:30 pm; Sunday 4 pm

Songs, Chants, Stories & Games
Tim Wells is classroom teacher for pre-school - Kindergarteners, a dad and a musician. His program is geared to 3 - 5 year olds and includes interactive and participatory segments that can be quickly learned and taken home for even more enjoyment! Kid’s Tent, Friday & Saturday, 10 am

Jammin’ Baby
Stop by the seedlings area on Saturday afternoon for some good-time baby groovin’! Jamminbaby is a licensed provider of Music Together, an internationally recognized program that has been providing early childhood music education programs for children 0 -5 years old for more than 20 years. Jamminbaby provides a culturally diverse musical experience for the entire family through singing, dancing and instrument play to music from around the world. This is truly an experience for you and your child to enjoy. Check out the website at www.jamminbaby.com Kid’s Tent, Saturday, 3:30 pm

Tie-Dye Making
Create your own tie-dye shirt with Dye Nation. Swirls, washboards and COLOR! All participants take home their hand-dyed creation. Limited to first 20 participants. Ages up to 9 - Kid’s Tent, Saturday, 5 pm; Ages 10+ - The Outpost, 2:30 pm

Create Your Own Hoops!
Join local hoop dancer Jewels (aka Julia Hartsell) for a hands-on hoop making experience. Jewels has been developing her hoop craft and spreading hoop joy in the community for nearly 7 years. In addition to teaching regular classes and workshops for both children and adults, Jewels travels to faraway lands visiting schools, medical centers and orphanages with her handmade hoops. Playshops limited to first 20 participants. www.hoopbliss.com Ages up to 9, Kid’s Tent, Friday 4 pm; Ages 9-13, The Outpost, Saturday 1 pm

Finding Your Voice: Music & Media
A workshop for teens and pre-teens. Exploring creativity through dialogue, art and music. We will focus on current topics in music and art that impact young people today through discussion, collage making, and other media. The Outpost, Sunday, 12 noon

Hand Drums with Music Explorium .
For older kids and young adults. Join the Music Explorium Folks to learn djembe drumming technique, play interlocking rhythms, and lead rhythm games. We have Djembe and ashikos to loan, or bring your own. The Outpost, Sunday 11 am

Activities near the Kids Tent or in Cabaret Tent

Make Your Own Jewelry!
Come and create your own jewelry with the help of Cadette Troop 1031 from Staley, NC. Beads, buttons, bows and more. Decorate yourself in your own designs at this fun, free booth. Near Kids’ Area, Saturday 11am-5pm & Sunday 1-5pm
Create Your Own Hoops!
Join local hoop dancer Jewels (aka Julia Hartsell) for a hands-on hoop making experience. Jewels has been developing her hoop craft and spreading hoop joy in the community for nearly 7 years. In addition to teaching regular classes and workshops for both children and adults, Jewels travels to faraway lands visiting schools, medical centers and orphanages with her handmade hoops. Playshops limited to first 20 participants. www.hoopbliss.com Ages up to 9, Kid’s Tent, Friday 4 pm; Ages 9-13, The Outpost, Saturday 1 pm

HoopJam
Parade Pep Rally! Engage the senses ~ Exercise the bodymind~ Enliven the soul ~
Join Jewels & professional drummer, Scott Crews, for a hoop jam prior to the parade. Scott will bring percussive instruments and Jewels will bring a few hoops. Of course, this will be a great time to shine in your new hoop creations made at the workshops as well! This hoop jam will be for kids of all ages. www.thehoopjam.com Near the Kid’s Area Sunday 1:15 pm

Mother Goose
Mother Goose will be visiting the Grassroots Festival at Shakori Hills again! Laura Janelle Royster’s Mother Goose combines educational theatre with fun, fun, fun! Looking for some fun? Come join Mother Goose and musical guest stars from I Feel Better with Music! It’s a magical experience for children of all ages. Cabaret Tent, Friday, 3:00 pm

Louise Omoto Kessel & Friends – Storytelling
Louise’s stories weave humor and spirit. Rivers speak, an elderly woman sights an angel out near her back yard barbecue 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.
Louise will be joined on Friday by her friend Mike Hamer, who has been delighting children’s audiences with songs and music for over 25 years! On Sunday, percussionist Beverly Botsford creates soundscapes for Louise’s stories using bells, chimes, drums, gongs, rattles and shakers from around the world. This is a high-energy collaboration and we look forward to ringing, grooving, and dancing our way through the stories with you!!
Cabaret Tent, Friday, 1:45 pm; Sunday, 11:30 am

Family Game Time
Join The New River Rock Skippers for a hoppin’ session of musical “squares” and other fun family games, old-time style! Come see for yourself if the hokey pokey really IS what it’s all about! Cabaret Tent, Saturday 12:15

Children’s Clogging
Clogging is a rhythmic Appalachian folk dance that is easy to learn,
lively, and lots of fun. Come shake a leg with Barbara Wright as she
teaches steps and circle dances. Barbara has been dancing & teaching
in the mountains of Virginia for over 25 years. Kids of all ages
welcome. Live Appalachian Old Time music will be provided by The New River Rock Skippers. Cabaret Tent, Saturday 10 am

Music Explorium Family Rhythm Jam - Rhythm fun for ages 3 and up.
Play rhythm games, drum to word rhythms, drum to stories. Great family fun! Drums and hand percussion to loan. Field near the Kid’s Area, Sunday 3 pm

Earth Day Celebration & Happiness Parade
Time to get all dressed up in your masks & costumes! Bring your puppets and noisemakers and come along on a magical tour through the festival grounds! EVERYONE makes up the parade to celebrate wonderful Earth. Meet at the Kid’s Area, Sunday 2 pm