Children’s Fair highlights music performance

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WORTHINGTON — The Nobles County Children’s Cabinet will celebrate the silver jubilee of its annual children’s fair Friday at the Worthington High School gym.

A highlight of this year’s celebration will be live music from children’s performer, Phil Baker. Coincidentally, this year is Baker’s 25th year in the music industry too.

Originally from Massachusetts, Baker’s family moved to Brookings, S.D. when he was 12. He said performing for children wasn’t a career he planned on.

“It happened by accident,” he said, explaining years ago he was invited to perform a jazz guitar session at a classroom.

The class teacher asked if he had previous experience working with children.

“She suggested I give that try and from then on, I’ve been working with schools and early childhood organizations,” he said.

Baker will be performing two half-hour sessions on Friday. Both sessions are interactive session where he will teach the children dance moves prior to the performance.

About 60 to 70 percent of Baker’s music is original work, he added.

“It’s definitely not a sit-down-in-your-seat performance,” said Nobles County Children’s Cabinet Representative Tara Thompson.

Thompson said this year, the Nobles County Children’s Cabinet, Worthington Area Foundation and the Nobles Cooperative Electric “Operation Round Up” collaborated to provide attendees with Phil Baker’s performance.

Apart from music, there will be about 25 booths from community organizations providing hands-on children activities and informational material for parents.

“We really value family spending time together so we try to cater to a wider range of people although the event is for children below the age of 10,” Thompson said.

Nobles County children librarian, Jackie Van Horsen explained the library booth will organize an absorption art activity for both kids and adults.

“It’s an art project plus a science experiment,” Van Horsen said about the project, which will utilize salt, colored water and glue to create new colors.

Van Horsen will be on-hand to distribute summer reading brochures.

The children’s fair attendees will also have the opportunity to play with fluorescent-colored chicks at the Nobles County 4-H booth.

“We had that last year and it was a hit,” said Nobles County 4-H program coordinator Kendra Van Beusekom.

The 4-H booth will also showcase projects done by several 4-H members. Informational material about 4-H CloverBuds will be available for kindergarten through third-grade children.

“I think it’s incredibly important to work with the younger-aged youth so they can see that there’s something for them in 4-H no matter what their hobbies are,” Van Beusekom added.

Thompson is looking forward to a great turnout at the high school gym, adding there were 294 children alone in attendance last year.

“It’s a great night out for family,” she said. “It doesn’t cost them anything and they get exposure to fun things.”

The 25th Annual Children’s Fair will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Daily Globe Reporter Ana Anthony can be reached at 376-7321.

Tags: children’s fair, news, music, performance