By Riki Bolster
Instead of setting up a table and handing out fliers about their program at festivals, Ryan Downey, director of the East Atlanta Kids Club (EAKC), actively participates in the event activities. EAKC has participated in the East Atlanta Strut, the Benteen Park Festival, and the Ormewood Park Makers Festival’s Kids Zone for several years.
“We lean into community festivals,” Downey said. “We’d rather provide experiences. The communities and festivals support our programs as well.” The EAKC has been the recipient of funds from the communities presenting the festivals.
Although the Ormewood Park Makers Festival provides a smaller footprint – “for the Strut, we have the whole park,” Downey pointed out – the new activity planned for this year is a nine-hole mini-golf experience. There will also be large Lego-like building blocks, other large games and probably sidewalk chalk.
In addition to the kids who attend EAKC, Ryan and Allison, his wife of 15 years, have two children of their own (ages three-and-a-half and 18 months). “Children anchor your WHY,” he said. “We are all linked. A social safety net is more and more important. My kids are growing up with kids from all kinds of backgrounds.”
Here We Grow is a new vendor that will be participating in the Kids Zone, donating their time and staff all day at the festival. “We do privately-hosted curated experiences, utilizing a staff of teaching artists,” Taryn Rioseco, owner, explained. “We go to neighborhood parks, homes, centers and usually center the activities on the theme chosen for the event, whether a birthday party or other celebration.” This will be their first festival. Centering on a fall theme for the festival, activities will include sensory play activities and processed art (stickering, jewelry making, playdough, etc.). Once every hour they will conduct music sessions with the children.
The festival will take place on Saturday, October 18 from 11:00am to 6:00 pm at the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Woodland Avenue.
