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WOMADelaide: In The Zone

Mad March is here and Womadelaide is back, much to the joy of music and culture lovers.
With music, food, shopping, dancing and a range of workshops, there is always something for everyone, including the kids.

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Niamh and Keeley rocking out the KidZone

Mad March is here and Womadelaide is back, much to the joy of music and culture lovers.

With music, food, shopping, dancing and a range of workshops, there is always something for everyone, including the kids.

KidZone, sponsored by Coles, offers activities and fun for kids of all ages, making the World of Music, Arts and Dance festival in Adelaide one of the most inclusive festivals and a favourite for families.

In 2014, the ‘Zone has two jumping castles, the ever popular Box Wars, face painting, theatre, parades, trees to climb, Carclew’s multicultural art and craft workshops and much more.

Returning to Womad for her 17th year is Evelyn Roth and her Nylon Zoo.

Evelyn, originally from Canada made her first nylon zoo for the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games; since then, she has been touring her zoo all over the world.

The popular event for kids involves a parade where participants dress in the nylon animal costumes, each designed to move a certain way, parade around KidZone and head back to a giant, nylon inflatable animal for a story.

Costumes and the inflatable creatures are designed and hand stitched by Evelyn who changes them daily.

“Each day, we have a different animal and a different story. We have a bit of a fan club so kids say, ‘I went in the panda, or the salmon!’ We try to give them a new experience every day,” she said.

Over at the Carclew tent, four workshops run with four sessions per day where young people busily make such crafts as African marionettes, Chilean rain sticks and Chinese rattle drums.

Chilean rain sticks artist Justina Legoe said she loves working at the unique festival.

“I love the colours and excitement of the festival. I love the kids’ reaction to the fun in Kidzone. Womad is unique. It’s an all generational festival and it’s so friendly and peaceful,” she said.

The SA Museum tent, back for its second year offers a dark space for kids to be explorers and learn about the wonders of science.

Outreach Programs Coordinator Leanne Bloomfield said she enjoys giving kids the opportunity to immerse themselves in the activities and learn something new.

“Kids can go to the bottom of the ocean with marine biologist Andrea Crowther, go for a walk to see the bat colony with our batman Terry Reardon or learn about Collembola with Mark Stevens. I love that there is so much here for the kids. They really enjoy it and it helps to increase our visitation at the Museum too,” she said.

KidZone is open from Saturday until Monday of the festival and most of the activities are free of charge; bookings are essential at some of the events.

Submitted by Libby Parker

(Pictures: Supplied by author)

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Evelyn Roth’s Nylon Zoo

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