Liverpool handed over to the youngsters for a day

Aug 4 2007 by Staff Reporter, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool handed over to the youngsters for a day

AS THE sun broke through and beat down on to a deckchair and beach, visitors could be forgiven for thinking they had arrived at a seaside resort rather then St George’s Hall.

The sixth Liverpool Children’s Festival took place in the grounds around William Brown Street yesterday, for a day-long event of family activities and entertainment.

The programme included street theatre, model-making, circus skills, drumming workshops, tightrope walkers, face-painting, and a fake beach.

The Children's Festival is presented each year by the Liverpool Young Culture Action Group and the Culture Company, with the aim of offering a range of arts and cultural activities for free.

Tightrope-walker Gwen Thomson said it had been a successful day and called for more opportunities for children in the city.

She said: “The turn out has been great, there's so many people here, there all clambering to see all the activities.

“There's so much variety, the more of it the better I think.”

“It’s boss,” screamed a young girl, looking at the manmade beach which was constructed using 20 tonnes of sand.

Unicyclist Neil Smith said: “It’s fantastic. It’s great to have so many acts in one place, with kids from all backgrounds getting involved.”

The Walker Art Gallery, Central Library and World Museum Liverpool, framing the festival area, were decked in balloons.

Artists Holly Langley and Chris Murray drew different scenes of the day with children stopping to be a part of a huge picture.

A group of performing art students from Inside Out Arts aged between 10 and 15 took part in a treasure hunt show, whilst 30 students from Toxteth’s Greenhouse Project performed a choreography inspired by the diversity of Liverpool.

Visitors were also able to check on the progress of the Liverpool Giant, the 15ft- model currently under construction at World Museum Liverpool, which is to lead the city's 800th birthday pageant on August 28, with the day concluding with a colourful parade outside the museum.