NMCC to host Kinderfest event to benefit Wintergreen Arts Center Saturday, October 24


Presque Isle  - Families in and around Aroostook County are invited to participate in Kinderfest, a German-themed event hosted by Northern Maine Community College and the Wintergreen Arts Center. 

Activities will be held on Saturday, October 24, at the NMCC Gymnasium from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  All proceeds will benefit the Wintergreen Arts Center renovation project for the program’s new facility in downtown Presque Isle. 

The Oktoberfest-themed festivities will feature face painting, story time, a Hansel and Gretel puppet show, children’s karaoke by Pass-A-Hat Entertainment, and a bouncy house and a movie matinee sponsored by Cary Medical Center.  Weather permitting the event will include outdoor horse-drawn carriage rides provided by Maple Meadow Farms.  NMCC food service provider Aramark will be providing Kinderfest themed food as well. 

         “Kinderfest is a celebration of the German culture and the activities reflect that with Oktoberfest colors and German themed activities.  Bird house painting, flag and chain paper crafts, felt gingerbread men, gingerbread houses and potato stamping will all be part of the celebration at NMCC,” said Heidi Broad-Smith, NMCC early childhood education instructor who is coordinating the children’s activities that day.

    For the Wintergreen Arts Center, the Kinderfest event comes at an ideal time as the organization is in the midst of its $100,000 fundraising campaign to conduct necessary improvements and renovations to its new home at 149 State Street in Presque Isle.  Wintergreen was given a ten year lease from Tony and Glenn Burgess-Capp free of charge with the utilities included.   The money will go toward electrical improvements, a new bathroom, floor and ceiling restoration, lighting, signage, furnishings, and landscaping.
   
         “Kinderfest is a great chance for families to do some fun things together while supporting a good cause,” said Lara Cannon, executive director of Wintergreen Arts Center.  “This is the last children’s event we have happening until we open on January 4, so we really hope that families will come and support us.”
      
              Kinderfest is being sponsored by Northern Maine Community College and co-sponsored by the NMCC Student Senate and Cary Medical Center.  The event cost is $10 for 12 tickets, or $1 for each ticket, for the children to use to participate in each of the activities.

    “We are so excited to be able to partner with the Wintergreen Arts Center for this event.  The Center provides many wonderful choices and activities for the children in our communities.  By hosting the event we are able to assist in the renovation project at Wintergreen’s new studio in downtown Presque Isle, which many of our students will visit with their children.   This will be a great event to bring your children and interact, while supporting a great cause,” said Shannon Smart, NMCC business administration student and organizer of the event.  
    
           Wintergreen Arts Studio will also be hosting an Oktoberfest celebration on the evening of October 24 at the Shriners Club in Presque Isle for adults age 21 and older.  The event will include a live band and lots of food.  For more information on the Kinderfest event, see the wintergreenarts.org website or contact the NMCC college relations office at 768-2809.


The above logo has been developed by a Wintergreen Arts Center volunteer for the upcoming Kinderfest activity at Northern Maine Community College on October 24.