The 40th annual International Children's Festival took place on Sept 18 & 19, 2010.

The Festival was produced by the Arts Council of Fairfax County in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Festival Spotlight

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International Performers from Mexico and Poland!

Coming to the Festival from our southern neighbor Mexico are young dancers from the Folklore Ballet American School in the city of Puebla. From the city of Lublin, Poland comes the young Folk Song and Dance Ensemble LUBLIN.

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Hosts: New York Goofs

America's Premier Clown Troupe! Since their inception in May of 1998, The New York Goofs have been presenting their unique brand of clowning all over the world. Comprised of only the top prefessionals in the country, the NY Goofs strive to bring audiences the best physical comedy that can be seen on any stage or under any big top. The New York Goofs will be hosting the Global Stage!

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AFRICA: Rhythm

The Cultural Foundation For Children teaches children about themselves, their heritage, family history, and physical health, as well as their society, including community history, leadership, service and urban survival. The Foundation focuses its attention on African American youth of all ages.

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ASIA: Song

Balaji Music Academy is a unique institution that offers classes in Indian Classical Vocal Music, Ghazals, Bhajans, Pop Music and music of general interest.

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EUROPE: Theater

Traveling Players Ensemble is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing great theatre into the great outdoors through a theatre company and a thriving educational program.

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NORTH AMERICA: Rhythm

Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble is a youth tap dance ensemble comprised of a group of highly motivated and talented tap dancers from the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Area.

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SOUTH AMERICA: Dance

Tobas Dinastía is a Bolivian dance group with the mission of promoting the Bolivian culture in the United States

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  • International
  • Hosts
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America
2010 Festival

Notice

The Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Fairfax County voted in December of 2010  to discontinue the Arts Council's role as presenter of the International Children’s Festival. This has been a difficult decision based on many years of decline in sponsorship funding and the inability to restructure an economic model for the Festival that would make if financially viable going forward. The past year’s 40th Anniversary Festival — a success on so many levels — provides a natural point at which to close the program.

We are especially grateful that the 2010 Festival brought back Bob McGrath to help celebrate the event’s many years. As the county’s service organization to the arts in Fairfax County, we will continue to serve the arts community, the schools, and the general community through our arts education programs such as CAPs, Video Fairfax, our grants program, and through improved communication services. We are also embarking into two massive studies, which will be the corner stone for planning the master arts plan for Fairfax County.

Words can’t begin to express our feelings and thanks to all the donors, volunteers, participants and attendees — making the Festival a success and a community highlight for so many years. We will all miss being at Wolf Trap in September but we hope that you will continue to support us in other endeavors in the years ahead. The Arts Council wants to continue with the relationship we have established over these past years. We will be reaching out to you in the coming months to continue our work together for the arts in the county.

Special Appearance by Bob McGrath

BobMcGrathIn celebration of the 40th annual International Children's Festival, Bob McGrath, "Bob from Sesame Street", will make a special appearance on Global Stage.  Bob acted as host and consultant to the Festival for over 15 years. His extensive experience and knowledge of children's programing has helped shape the Festival into what it is today. 

As  "Bob from Sesame Street", Bob McGrath has entertained millions of children and parents alike for 38 years....on Sesame Street, in concerts all over North America and on his award winning records. He has bridged two generations of television viewers as one of the original hosts of Sesame Street. He has performed thousands of family pops, educational and holiday concerts for audiences who are now bringing their children or "Sesame Seeds" to see and hear their friend Bob. In addition to working with both small bands and Symphony Orchestras, the Pied Piper of Sesame Street utilizes local children to sing and dance in musical productions from Sesame Street, Broadway and his latest recordings. Bob feels strongly that it is important to expose children to all the arts, and to offer them the experience of listening and seeing "live" music and dance.

He was recently inducted into the 2002 Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is the recipient of the American Eagle Award by the National Music Council and the Fame Award by the National Association of Music Educators for furthering the cause of music education. In 2005, Bob McGrath was recognized for his contributions to the International Children's Festival in the Congressional Record, presented by the Honorable Tom Davis of Virginia. 

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