Be There: Forest Acres Festival brings free family fun

WHAT: Forest Acres Festival

WHERE: A.C. Flora High School athletic fields, 1 Falcon Drive

WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Midlands families can partake in carnival rides, face painting, magic shows and more at the Forest Acres Festival – and all free of charge.

“They can come out and spend the whole day at no cost, ride all the rides and see all the shows. Parents can sit and listen to live bluegrass bands and pay nothing,” said George Shissias of the Forest Acres Rotary Club. “Kids can stay all day and ride one ride after another.”

The festival, in its 16th year, offers a wide variety of activities geared toward kids, with free admission and attractions. The only thing guests can spend money on is food, according to Shissias. Everything else, including pony rides and live music, is free for all guests to enjoy. The festival is made possible by 40 sponsors, including the city of Forest Acres.

Carnival rides will delight parents and children alike, with smaller attractions for little ones and rides that may require some kids to bring mom or dad along. There is also a special section of the festival for children between the ages of 2 and 7, where they can play games that they will always win and receive prizes.

The Vibe

The festival is geared toward families, with plenty of kid-friendly activities and no alcohol on the premises, but all are welcome. Parents can relax and listen to live music while their children get their faces painted into lions and tigers or watch one of the day’s many magic shows. Because all attractions are free, every family can get their fill of fun.

“Some families come up afterwards and say ‘Thank you, we couldn’t afford this for our child at a normal festival,” Shissias said.

The Verdict

The Forest Acres Festival provides families many options for a fun Saturday at everyone’s favorite price tag: nothing. Parents can look forward to kids tiring themselves out on unlimited rides and activities, and maybe even hop on some classic carnival attractions themselves.

Amanda C. Coyne

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Be There: Forest Acres Festival brings free family fun."