Music takes center stage at The Woodlands Children's Festival this weekend

The festival, which is dedicated to inspiring children through a wide variety of performances and visual art, takes place at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Lake Robbins Drive. Activities over the course of the weekend include everything from hat-making, face painting, carnival games, a train ride and of course, live music.

The performers brought in this weekend include several well-known children's acts, including KIDZ BOP performers and Sing-a-long with Barney. Other performers include the West African music and dance group, Manding Jata, the electric folk-rock bank, Trout Fishing in America, and singer-songwriter Roger Day and the Mosquito Burrito Brothers Band. Several mascots will also be romping around the festival grounds, such as the Chick-fil-A Cow and Frosty the Snowman.

The Children's Festival seeks to educate while it entertains. Arts and crafts projects teach children about the elements of art, the Ironman Healthy KidZone brings in professional athletes to teach about the importance of physical fitness and nutrition and the children can go to the instrument petting zoo to learn how to hold and play an array of instruments.

The two-day event is packed with enough activities to keep children engaged no matter what their interests are. Whether they want to march in the Kazoo parade, take a train ride around the park or play a giant game of Operation, there is something for everyone.

The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Daily admission is $10 at the door and free for children under two. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands.