Events Planner: Children's festivals

FINLAND

FINLAND

Oulu Children's Theatre Festival, 25-29 February

During the cold, dark winter, the northern Finnish city of Oulu comes alive with a five-day drama event for children of all ages. Performances include puppet shows based on Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine and Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, and plays from the 2003 Pegasos playwriting competition for children.

The festival will also welcome performers from Finland and beyond, including Theatre Lolo from Wales. Tickets are priced at about €6 (£4), but vary according to venue. For further information call the Oulu Theatre on 00 35 88 5584 7000 or go to www.oulu.ouka.fi

AUSTRALIA

Melbourne Moomba Waterfest, 5-8 March

Free festivals are somewhat of a rarity these days, but Moomba has been providing gratis family fun for nearly 50 years. The name is derived from an Aboriginal term thought to mean "communal merriment" - something that the organisers promise visitors. The festival congregates around the Yarra river which meanders through Melbourne, and over the four-day event, live music, open-air film screenings, children's activities and water sports will all take place amid a carnival atmosphere. Some of the water-based attractions will include a waterskiing competition, a bathtub race and the Birdman rally in which contestants try to pilot their home-made flying machines over (or more likely into) the river. For children there will be a kids' carnival, face painting, sand sculpture displays and outdoor screenings of perennial favourites like Monsters Inc. and The Lion King. The festival is open between Friday and Monday from 8am to around 10.30pm. For further information call 00 61 3 9658 9658 or go to www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

FRANCE

Méli'Môme, 20 March-8 April

This international children's festival of the arts takes place principally in Reims, but also around the Champagne-Ardenne region of France. More than 200 dance, music, puppetry, drama and opera events will be staged over the three weeks. The festival, which has been running for 10 years, aims to promote the arts to children. Some of the inspired attractions will be a performance of Carnival of the Animals by Parisian composer Camille

Saint-Saëns and an opera inspired by the Persian folk tales Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves and Aladdin. Performers come from all over the world, including Sweden, Israel and Canada. To buy tickets for any of the events, call 00 33 3 2609 3333 or visit the Reims city website at www.ville-reims.fr

JAPAN

Children's Day, 5 May

In Japan, young people have had a special public holiday since 1948. It was originally a boys-only event - girls had their own day, the Doll Festival, on

3 March. Today, 5 May has become a celebration for both sexes, although it is still male-dominated and is known as "tango no sekku" (Boy's Day).

Festival traditions include flying carp-shaped balloons (carp symbolise strength in Japanese tradition), and bathing in water infused with irises (thought to bring good health and ward off evil spirits). Events are held up and down the country, including a Kids' Olympic Games in Tokyo's Kasumigaoka Stadium and performances of the ancient comic theatre of "Kyogen". For more details on this year's Children's Day, you will have to visit www.seejapan.co.uk; the Japan National Tourist Organisation in London has been closed to the public.

CANADA

Vancouver International Children's Festival, 17-24 May

Due to the success of previous events, the Canadian Institute of the Arts for Young Audiences has added an extra day to its 27th annual celebration for children. The event takes place over the Victoria Day weekend and aims to make children more aware of the arts.

Each day has a different theme - from literature to Asian culture and film animation. The festival's diverse programme is designed to increase appreciation of both arts and culture by presenting them in fun and interesting ways that are accessible

to children.

In addition to the performances there will be workshops and hands-on activities to get involved in, such as kite-making and face-painting. Tickets can be purchased from 27 March by calling

001 604 280 4444. See www.childrensfestival.ca for further information.

NEW ZEALAND

The Royal Easter Show, 7-12 April

For children Easter can only mean one thing - chocolate eggs, and one of the central features of the Royal Easter Show, an annual event held at the Auckland Showgrounds, is "The Great Easter Egg Hunt". Some of the other attractions include a "Farmworld", with animals that children can play with; The Weber Brothers Circus who will be staging the egg hunt;

an official appearance by Bob the Builder; carnival rides; an equestrian show; dog trials and a cat show. And to keep the accompanying adults gratified, there will be a Royal Easter Show Wine Competition. Admission to the event costs NZ$30 (£11) for a family of five. For more information call 00 64 9623 7724 or go to www.royaleastershow.co.nz

USA

Houston Children's Festival, 3-4 April

This is 16th anniversary of the USA's biggest outdoor children's event and will feature around 350 attractions. The draws include an interactive zoo, face-painting, abseiling, celebrity appearances, and performances of music and dance. Visitors can also learn circus skills and acrobatics. The festival is open from 9am to 6.30pm and costs $7 (£3.80) per person (under-threes are free). Houston, the USA's Space City, is also a fantastic place for families, with attractions including an aquarium, a water park, and of course the NASA Space Center. For more information call 001 713 529 1396 or go to www.festivalsofhouston.com