By Alexandra Pecci
Correspondent

The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival kicks off Monday for a week-long party at which kids rule and the fun is free.

The festival starts with a magic show and continues throughout the week with everything from face painting to live music and a talent show. It culminates in a costume parade for which every participating child gets a prize, such as stuffed animals, a kite or other toy.

Some of the favorite activities at the festival are mini golf, sand castle building, and, of course, the costume parade, says Katie Curran, assistant to the president at the Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“Ronald McDonald is always a big hit,” Curran said, posing that this might be influenced by the free ice cream kids get at this portion of the event.

For the talent show, children get a few minutes to get up on the stage and sing, dance or show off another talent. Curran says participants should sign up early in the Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce office at 22 C St.

The Chamber has been running the festival for more than 30 years. Curran says the secret to its endurance is the fact that parents who went to the festival as kids can now bring their own children.

“There are such strong childhood memories,” she says.

If you go:
What: Hampton Beach Children’s Festival.
Where: Hampton Beach.
When: Monday, August 16-Friday, August 20.
How: Free. Learn more at HamptonBeach.org.
Here’s what on the schedule for the Hampton Beach Children’s Festival:
MONDAY
10 a.m.: Magic show.
11:15 a.m.: Music from Michael & Marisa.
12:30 p.m.: Music from Judy Pancoast & The Groovie Dudes.
2 to 4 p.m.: Buc’s Lagoon Mini Golf (register early at the Chamber office).
TUESDAY
10 a.m.: Sand castle competition.
10 a.m.: Fran Flynn, magician extraordinaire.
11:15 a.m.: Vic and Sticks, “recycled rhythm” band.
1 p.m.: Fran Flynn, magician extraordinaire.
2:30 p.m.: Talent show (register early at the Chamber office).
WEDNESDAY
10 a.m.: Face painting.
10 a.m.: Abracadabra Productions’ Strolling Miracles.
10:30 a.m.: Yoga, Zumba.
Noon: Lil’ Iguana Live!
2 p.m.: Ronald McDonald and free ice cream.
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks spectacular .
THURSDAY
11 a.m.: Dan Grady’s Marvelous Marionettes.
12:30 p.m.: Malik-Get Ready to Laugh!
1:30 p.m.: Classics Alive! Loris Burbine-In an Ancient Forest.
3:00 p.m.: Music from Julie & Brownie.
FRIDAY
11 a.m.: Children’s Parade (meet at the state park at 10:15 a.m.).
Noon: Grand Finale at the Seashell Stage.