The Woodruff Arts Center will host its sixth Free Family Festival on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be family-oriented programming led by the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and High Museum of Art.
The festival will include live performances from master Jamaican musicians & storytellers, scavenger hunts with Eric Carle’s famous children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” interactive musical experiences like Pop, Zing, Boom! with Dave Holland of Beatin’ Path Rhythm Events and Alliance Live! Hollywood Squares.
In addition to the free activities happening throughout The Woodruff Arts Center, the High Museum of Art will offer free admission and free scavenger hunt guides based on the exhibition, “I See a Story: The Art of Eric Carle,” for families to explore Carle’s world at their own pace. Children of all ages will also be able to work with High Museum of Art teaching artists to make their very own wire leaf sculptures, inspired by the colors of fall. Toddler Tours will take toddlers and their caregivers on a physically interactive experience with art where they will experience dance and drama-based strategies to interpret works of art and learn about museums.
Alliance Theatre’s Kathy and Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young will present a free sneak peek at the upcoming production “From Head to Toe,” which is based on the beloved Eric Carle children’s book of the same name. :ocal artist Mama Yeye will lead African dance workshops for all levels of experience inspired by the African tales of the spider Ananse and Ashley Bryan’s “The Dancing Granny.” In addition, a cast of all-Atlanta grandmothers will showcase the power of grandmothers to audiences of all ages in a free 3:30 p.m. performance of “The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering” by Sharon Mehdi featuring Pearl Cleage, Alliance Theatre Mellon Playwright in Residence.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will present an instrument petting zoo: violins, a cello, a flute and a trumpet will be on hand for children ages 5 and older to touch and try. Families will go on an exploration of sound, science and music at Pop, Zing, Boom! with Dave Holland of Beatin’ Path Rhythm Events; the interactive musical experience with percussive instruments will take place throughout the festival. Future music-makers will be able to design, create and play with their own egg shaker maracas at the festival’s free instrument-making station.
To register for the Free Family Festival, visit woodruffcreateATL.org.