The City collaborates with SMMUSD and YMCA Healthy Kids Day to promote early learning and development with a “Ready, Set, Build” theme at Virginia Avenue Park on April 29
The City of Santa Monica, in partnership with SMMUSD and YMCA Healthy Kids Day, is hosting the annual Arts & Literacy Festival at Virginia Avenue Park on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year’s theme, “Ready, Set, Build,” will showcase more than 30 community organizations offering games and activities that align with the Santa Monica Cradle to Career Building Blocks for Kindergarten campaign. The initiative promotes social and emotional development, self-care, physical well-being and motor skills, language development, and early learning to ensure all Santa Monica children are prepared to learn, both inside and outside the classroom.
Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities, such as the reDiscover Center’s Tool Petting Zoo and Carboard Construction Zone, the Cayton Children’s Museum’s Recycled City activity, and the Santa Monica Public Library Storytime Stage featuring construction-themed books read by Public Works staff in hardhats. Additionally, the Under Construction Game Area will offer tool relay races, building blocks, truck obstacle courses, and more. Roaming stilt walkers and Bob the Builder will also be present.
Furthermore, visitors can collect stamps from activity booths on the event’s Explorer Card, redeemable for a free book at the Santa Monica Public Library booth.
On the main stage, the festival will feature performances from the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra’s Mariachi Ensemble and Balkan Ensemble, Bollypop Interactive Dance Performance, Elemental Music’s Prelude Program, Santa Monica Ballet Folklorico, and the Psychic Buster Magic and More Show, hosted by emcee Sean Hill.
