KidsMarket celebrates 20 years at the 2009 TV2 KidsFest Launch on Monday
KidsMarket celebrates 20 years of providing business know-how to kids in Christchurch during the launch of TV2KidsFest 2009 this Monday in Cathedral Square.
KidsMarket is a one-day school in entrepreneurship: six to 12 year olds making and selling baked goods, art work and fancy items, or their pre-loved toys, books, clothing and collectables.
KidsMarket offers kids the satisfaction of stuffing their piggy banks with the proceeds of selling their handiwork or toss-outs during the day. It also offers great live music during the launch of TV2 KidsFest, including the St Andrew’s College Stage Band, Craig Smith (NZ Children’s Songwriter of the Year 2008), and Eddie and Cullen Kiesanowski (last year’s winners of the Singapore Airlines StarFest).
Some 300 to 500 children run their own stalls on Monday (or Tuesday, if it rains), paying $5 to book a stall through Ticketek, going through the process of registration and validation and selling their own goods. Adults may supervise but not participate. The actual wheeling and dealing, setting up and breaking down their stall (including price setting and any bargaining) must be done by the kid under whose name the stall is.
What they make they keep, or spend on the interesting goods offered by other kids. Parents have been known to complain that these pint-sized entrepreneurs sometimes come back with more than they set out to sell. This year the entry fee funds will be donated to the Cholmondeley Children’s Home in Christchurch. Friends of Children in Hospitals, Cancer Society Christchurch and West Coast Division, Heart Children Canterbury, Heart Children Auckland and the Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch are some of the children’s charities that have benefited in the past.
KidsMarket is a 20-year labour of love by the Verweij family, who run the weekly Cathedral Square Market. Inspired by a sick grandson and after interacting with sick children in their many visits to hospital, Gloria and husband Joe decided to raise money for them by putting together a children’s market. And KidsMarket was born.
Mayor Bob Parker will attend KidsMarket and officially launch TV2KidsFest at 12:30pm on Monday. TV2 KidsFest 2009 starts this weekend with Bikes4Fun at North Hagley tennis court on Saturday and on Sunday at Cowles Stadium (10am to 3pm both days).
Bikes4Fun continues at Cowles Stadium on Monday along with SkyArt (a massive aerial banner hand-painted by kids).
New Zealand's largest children's festival!
TV2 KidsFest is back again for the winter school holidays and it bigger and better than ever! With two weeks of full on fun and activities there's something to suit everyone. Whether you’re into music, arts & craft, cooking, drama, science, sports or adventure there’s loads to keep you busy and entertained. Check out what’s happening and play games online at www.KidsFest.co.nz . TV2 KidsFest 4 – 17 July 2009.