Children & Youth Partnership’s 17th annual KidsFest will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo from 9:30am – 12:30pm. Children, parents, grandparents and child care programs are invited to participate in a morning of fun, music, games, crafts, exploration, and play activities, all for FREE.
Last year, more than 1,800 young children, parents, grandparents and other caregivers enjoyed the morning with nearly 70 play stations including bubbles, the Sea Turtle Hospital, a variety of arts and crafts, fire trucks, police cars, and Buster the School Bus. This year, CYP is excited to welcome everyone back. CYP is also thrilled to be partnering with Dare Arts this year to bring Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center to the grounds at Roanoke Island Festival Park for dance and circus-style acts including stilt walking, juggling, and an aerialist.
KidsFest has become an annual event celebrating the young child and promoting the importance of play in developing the minds and imaginations of young children. Play and good play environments allow opportunities for children to discover, create, imagine, explore, and experience materials that will foster language skills, writing, cooperation, and scientific and mathematical concepts. The Outer Banks is also a beautiful place for young children to connect with nature and develop a love for the outdoors, and Roanoke Island Festival Park is the perfect venue for a wonderful morning of KidsFest fun and exploration!
This exciting event is provided free-of-charge, but would not be possible without the support of the Dare County community and all of our local supporters. Please contact Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County (CYP) at 252-441-0614 for more information about the event, or to learn how you can volunteer to help on this fun morning of play!
Families can follow CYP on Facebook (facebook.com/cypdarekids) to stay up-to-date with KidsFest happenings leading up to the big event on May 8, 2026.
Children & Youth Partnership is a non-profit organization serving children, youth, and families in Dare County. The Partnership administers the Smart Start program for Dare County for children birth through age five and is a central source of information about activities, programs, and resources for children of all ages and their families.
The Outer Banks Voice- April 24, 2026- The Outer Banks Voice - Fun, music, games, crafts, exploration and play at KidsFest
