Meet MJ...an artist in Face Painting...

I have a difficult time describing the love, care and prep work that the Face Painting Team does to get ready for Irish Fest.  MJ has so much energy, and is there for Irish Fest every year, with a huge smile and has made so many kids happy over the years...MJ is certainly part of our family in the Children's area.

Here is what MJ says:
Why I love Irish Fest: We have so much fun painting all the kids- each year we paint many of the same families- we have watched these kids grow up… This is our Irish Fest Family even if it is just for one weekend a year- we love, play and laugh through the entire thing- I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

Here is one of the favorite faces for fashionable young women of all ages!  Here is what MJ says:

Photo is of one of my favorite faces from Jiggle Jam this year- just made it up on the spot! Love it!

Thanks MJ!  Here is MJ working on a butterfly...

Moora
Face Painters wanted to remind you just because we are in the Children's area doesn't mean you have to be a child, we want to see all of you with your faces painted this year!  Celebrate Halloween with us!

How Do We Make the Children's Area Fun?

Mostly with a lot of help!   You have had a chance to meet the Kid's Club, not sure if we would have a Children's area without them, but there are so many other people who work really hard for us, like our stage entertainment; we have been saluting them for weeks.  Now, over the next couple of weeks, I have some really important people for you to meet!

DJ- The Balloon Guy

What to say about DJ?   He is one of the best finds the Irish Fest ever had.  It was one of the co-chairs, Anne who found DJ a loooooong time ago,  we went to see his work and were sold, and then we met him.   WOW!  All we can say is DJ is a delight, and as tradition goes, I always get the last balloon art he is doing!

Here is what DJ says about Irish Fest:

Without a doubt my favorite things about Irish Fest are the families and the great music. The families and kids are just awesome!!!!! They makes for such a fun event. The music, well it is one great band after another

Where do you find DJ?   Typically in or near the Children's Main Tent!

Moora

PS More tomorrow!

Festival Announcement from KCIF Children's Sponsor - KC Pumpkin Patch

KC PUMPKIN PATCH Announces U-Pick Pumpkins for the Whole Family


Gardner, Kansas- KC Pumpkin Patch, known for family fun throughout the Fall, is proud to announce that U-Pick pumpkins are ready. From Atlantic Giants to Baby Boo’s, a wide variety of pumpkins and gourds are available. The annual Pumpkin Festival celebration will kick off September 25 at 10:00 a.m. The Festival celebration is a favorite year after year and promises to be a fun‑filled day of family entertainment. The celebration will include 1,000’s of U-Pick Pumpkins, food booths, and over 40 special children’s activities!

For those hungry folks, a wide variety of mouth watering Festival Foods will be offered: hamburgers, hot dogs, barbeque and more. The Festival would not be complete without homemade Cider & Pumpkin doughnuts, fresh fudge, Funnel Cakes, Kettle Corn, Cotton Candy, Apple Cider Slush’s and Carmel Apples.

In addition to the Festival Food and great pumpkin hunting, children will have the opportunity to participate in Old –Fashioned Fun. Children will enjoy activities such as: Kansas City’s 1st JUMPING PILLOW, Paintball Gallery, Old Barnyard Petting Zoo, Barrel Train, Rope Maze, Hayrack ride, Haunted Barn, Humpty Dumpty Rock Climbing Wall, Game Corral, Gourd Gun, Yellow Brick Road Train Ride, Zip Line, Peddle Go Carts, Mining for Gemstones, and MUCH, MUCH, MORE! You’ve never seen a pumpkin patch like this before!

Visit www.kcpumpkinpatch.com and www.kccornmaze.net for a complete listing of the Festival Fun!

For Irish Fest, get a taste of this fun FEST as our sponsor brings special things like a giant Pirate Ship and sponsors our Costume Contests this year.

Baggin for Gold

Baggin for Gold

We have a new family game this year.  The name is Baggin for Gold, the play is that your family of four will stay in the game as long as they are winning the game.  Once a family is defeated, the new reigning family takes over.  Stay tuned for location of the game.

Moora

Driscoll School of Irish Dance

Have you ever wondered how to Dance like the Irish Dancers?  Stop Wondering.   Bridgid Driscoll is going to entertain us with her talent, make us smile and yes, even teach us a few things about Irish Dance. 

We are so excited to welcome Bridgid whose long time dream has been to open an Irish Dance School; well she has done that too!

Watch for the Children's Stage Schedule...coming soon.  And get a front row seat for Bridgid's Workshop.

Have  you ever seen a cow do Irish Dancing?  Stay Tuned!

Moora

Where O Where Are Our Face Painters?

Just talked to many of the Face Painters that come and do their magic at KCIF Children's, and  you know where they are?   They are in Anaheim at the Baseball 2010 All Star Game painting faces!  How fun is that?   Kristi, Amy, and MJ all said hi and will be in Irish Fest Mode soon, we have a practice day and meeting coming up.   Any special faces you want for our Halloween fun?

Moora

Our Thanks and Prayers

John O'Neal was a gentleman in every sense of the word,  I had the good fortune of meeting him in 1982, and within a year I had the opportunity to travel with him, and some other DST executives on a business trip to New York.  I learned a lot on that trip about DST business.  More importantly, John always stopped when he saw me at work to ask how things were, and how I was doing.  And then later, we crossed paths working for Irish Cultual events in Kansas City. He was the person that was always asked to sing the National Anthem and the Irish National Anthem in English and Gaelic to kick-off most of the important events in Kansas City having anything to do with Irish Culture.  He was a very good friend to the Irish Festival for all the years I have been working on it.  John got sick a while ago and fought for each moment of his life to spend precioius time with his family and friends.   We mourn the loss of our friend and wish his family all of our prayers and respect.   We have lost a great friend and a great man.  We thank him for his time given to the Irish Culture in Kansas City.

Shawn Sullivan-Warner
KCIF Children's Area