Children and Family Weekend

Overview

Hope Arts Center and House of Hope Presbyterian Church present the inaugural Children & Family Weekend, a two-day celebration of creativity, resilience, and connection for children, parents, grandparents, caregivers, educators, and the wider community.

Saturday features nationally recognized educator Erin Walsh, co-founder of Spark & Stitch Institute, presenting “It’s Their World: Raising Resilient Kids in the Digital Age,” offering practical, research-based guidance for families navigating children’s mental health, resilience, and technology. Children and youth can participate in poetry workshops presented with The Loft Literary Center.

On Sunday, Newbery Medal-winning poet and bestselling author Kwame Alexander presents a keynote on creativity, storytelling, and discovering your unique voice, followed by a conversation with Arleta Little of The Loft Literary Center.

The weekend also includes free family activities with Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre and Young Dance, live music, poetry, a giant puppet parade, book signings, art, a community reception, and a Sunday afternoon dance party.

Activities are a mix of free and ticketed events, with Sunday’s Kwame Alexander keynote free for children and youth.