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Hear ye! Hear ye! Come one, come all!
Dover Main Street invites the community for a full day end-of-school-year celebration for the City’s children and their families in Downtown Dover.
Click Here to View our Event Flyer
The first annual Dover Main Street Children’s Festival- A Celebration of Learning, Nature, History & the Arts will take place on Saturday, June 1st from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join us at 9 a.m. for the Dover Main Street Children’s Festival not-to-miss Opening Ceremony at the Rotary Pavillion with Emcee, Tim McCoy, and Main Stage Director, Tom Ferry.
The festival will be a showcase of Dover’s talent, both young and old, throughout the City’s downtown public spaces from Third Street down to the Rotary Pavilion stage, including outdoor and indoor entertainment and creative visual delights at Henry Law Park, the Mill Courtyard, City Hall, the Children’s Museum, The Noggin Factory, Childlight Yoga, the Dover Skate Park, and various local businesses. Artwork and live performances will be the highlight of the day, with activities and displays spread across Dover’s vibrant downtown, and stage acts in three locations.
Music, dance acts, storytelling, nature-based programming, historical reenactments, demonstrations, acting workshops, and hands-on fun learning experiences will all be an integral part of the celebration.
We have a whole day of festivities planned- come spend the day in Downtown Dover!
EVENT DETAILS
The Festival takes place throughout downtown Dover and is rain or shine with both outdoor and indoor venues.
The Festival takes place throughout downtown Dover and is rain or shine with both outdoor and indoor venues.
Event programs will be available at numerous locations outlining the schedule of activities.
The event admission is a suggested donation of $5.00, which supports the festival and the Dover Main Street organization.
DOVER MOUNTED POLICE HORSEDUCK DERBY
Purchase your ducks in advance, or at the festival, for the Dover Mounted Police Duck Derby Race down the Cochecho River, scheduled for 10 a.m. at Henry Law Park.
Purchase your ducks in advance, or at the festival, for the Dover Mounted Police Duck Derby Race down the Cochecho River, scheduled for 10 a.m. at Henry Law Park.
FOOD AT THE EVENT
As this event takes place throughout downtown we encourage all attending to make a full day of it in the community and enjoy our regular downtown dining establishments for food and beverages as needed, or pack for your families needs.
As this event takes place throughout downtown we encourage all attending to make a full day of it in the community and enjoy our regular downtown dining establishments for food and beverages as needed, or pack for your families needs.
A child, 12 and under, eats a kids meal free, with the purchase of an adult entree, on the day of the festival at several participating downtown restaurants including: Kelley’s Row, The Barley Pub, Patty B’s, The Brickhouse, Spaghetti Stain, and The Asia. Restrictions apply at all participating restaurants.
We will also have several of our local schools and non-profits selling baked goods at the Rotary Pavilion, as a fundraiser for their organizations.
PARKING AT THE EVENT
Parking is free on Saturdays in Downtown Dover. Park your car and walk around town! Look for event parking signs indicating best event parking lot locations. Please do not park in marked permitted parking spaces or you may risk being towed.
Parking is free on Saturdays in Downtown Dover. Park your car and walk around town! Look for event parking signs indicating best event parking lot locations. Please do not park in marked permitted parking spaces or you may risk being towed.
PARTICIPANTS
Participating organizations will receive logistical and set-up information by email from Director@dovermainstreet.org by May 15th.
Participating organizations will receive logistical and set-up information by email from Director@dovermainstreet.org by May 15th.
WANT TO HELP?
We also need volunteers to assist in making this a grand day.
We also need volunteers to assist in making this a grand day.
Please email Director@dovermainstreet.org to volunteer!
FRIENDS OF THE DOVER MAIN STREET CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
This is a community celebration and to make it happen we need community support. Donate on behalf of yourself, your family, or in remembrance of a loved one, in support of this event.
This is a community celebration and to make it happen we need community support. Donate on behalf of yourself, your family, or in remembrance of a loved one, in support of this event.
LOVE OUR FESTIVAL LOGO? SO DO WE!
With the goal of having this year be the first of what will become a growing annual event in our City, Dover Main Street asked illustrator, designer, and sculptor Nathan Walker to design the logo for the Children’s Festival to create imagery for the event that will both stand the test of time and speak clearly of the four themes we wish to celebrate- learning, nature, history and the arts. Nathan Walker is well-known in Dover for the amazing Blue Crab that he sculpted out of recycled materials which now proudly stands at the entrance of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. The Blue Crab also ‘traveled the world’ with local families one summer!
With the goal of having this year be the first of what will become a growing annual event in our City, Dover Main Street asked illustrator, designer, and sculptor Nathan Walker to design the logo for the Children’s Festival to create imagery for the event that will both stand the test of time and speak clearly of the four themes we wish to celebrate- learning, nature, history and the arts. Nathan Walker is well-known in Dover for the amazing Blue Crab that he sculpted out of recycled materials which now proudly stands at the entrance of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. The Blue Crab also ‘traveled the world’ with local families one summer!Nathan is not only an artist-in-residence at the Children’s Museum, he also does hands-on-programming at our Dover Schools inspiring children to use their imaginations and explore their creativity. The Children’s Museum will be a big part of the line-up of our festival programming, so plan to spend the whole day in Dover- there will be a lot going on to explore! Nathan will offer hands-on sculpturing workshops throughout the day at the event!