10th anniversary Childrens Day bigger than ever

With seven free family events organised across Hamilton this weekend, this year’s 10th annual Children’s Day will be the biggest yet for the city.

For the past decade Children’s Day has been putting quality family time back on our agendas, says neighbourhood advisor Andy Mannering.

“Every year on the first weekend in March, Children’s Day gets neighbourhoods together across the country. Everyone is welcome at Children’s Day, it’s all about helping everyday families get back to the basics of spending time having fun with their children, completely free of charge.

Having a theme each year gives families something to think about too. This year the theme is ‘Praise and Encouragement’. That’s because we know that encouragement leads to confidence and self-confidence is behind childrens’ success.

“There are lots of events to choose from in Hamilton this Children’s Day and everyone is welcome. You may want to head down to one in your neighbourhood or just try something fun with your family, whanau, or loved ones. Either way, the important thing is to make time to do something special together,” he says.

A range of events have been organised from a sharing picnic to punting on the Waikato River and meeting the historic Rangiriri riverboat’s ‘original’ designer. Elsewhere in the city there will be rides, music, entertainment, arts and crafts, face painting, games, trick bike displays, a singing and dancing competition, sausage sizzle, prizes and more.

All Children’s Day events in Hamilton are free and open to everyone and wherever you live in Hamilton there is an event near you:

Enderley Park Children’s Day
10am-2pm, Saturday, 6 March, Enderley Park, Tennyson Ave, Hamilton
Waikato Museum Children’s Day
11am-4pm, Sunday, 7 March, Waikato Museum, Grantham St, Hamilton
Melville Park Children’s Day
2pm-5pm, Sunday, 7 March, Melville Park, Normandy Ave, Hamilton
Elliot Park Children’s Day
2pm-5pm, Sunday, 7 March, Elliot Park, Hyde Ave, Hamilton
Discovery Park Children’s Day
1.30pm-4.30pm, Sunday, 7 March, Discovery Park, Discovery Dr, Hamilton
Te Rapa Whanau Picnic
4pm-5.30pm, Thursday, 4 March, Hamilton Te Rapa Early Education Centre, 76 Vickery St, Hamilton
Claudelands Family Fun Time
10.30am - 1.30pm, Sunday, 7 March Claudelands Park, Heaphy Tce, Hamilton
For more information visit www.childrensday.org.nz