North Campus To Host 18th Annual Children’s Holiday Festival On Dec. 7
’Tis the season to jingle all the way to North Campus, 11380 N.W. 27th Ave., for the 18th annual Children’s Holiday event.
The winter wonderland festival—featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a parade, performances, arts and crafts, rides, games and food—will take place on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. adjacent to the green space near the 4000 building.
More than 5,000 guests are expected to attend.
“It allows families to come together and enjoy a day full of enriching and fun activities,” said Evelyn Rodriguez, senior director of campus administration.
Santa will arrive from the North Pole via helicopter at 10 a.m. to kick off the event with a parade, featuring Mrs. Claus, elves and marching bands from Miami Carol City Senior High School, Miami Norland Senior High School and North Miami Senior High School.
This year’s festivities will feature a new Amazon-themed zipline, bounce houses and 15 educational tents. These include: the Youth in Agriculture Pavilion, which features a petting zoo, the STEM Interactive LEGO Tent and the Holidays-Around-the-World Center.
“I do this every year and I do it with pleasure,” said Ildiko Barsony, an associate professor, who has worked the event for ten years. “To see how children embrace the princes and princesses [and] how excited they get to see Tiana, Moana and Cinderella, whoever their favorite characters are, it’s really cute to see.”
Per tradition, children will have the opportunity to create arts and crafts in Santa’s Workshop and meet their favorite characters at the Princesses’ and Princes’ tents.
Attendees will also get to snap photos with Santa, enjoy Mrs. Claus’ stories and watch performances by Hawaiian dancers and the Hip Hop Kidz dance team.
“I like to be a part of the magic, to have kids experience what Christmas is like,’ said Ana Taboada, a student studying biopharmaceutics at North Campus who signed up to volunteer. “I think it’s important that … we spread joy and give [kids] a little magic.”
Children’s Holiday is free and open to the public, with food items available for purchase.
To volunteer, visit https://tinyurl.com/3ny2wbkj.
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