5th Annual All Kids Fair a Great Success

LongIsland.com

With its largest turnout ever, the popular All Kids Fair returned to the Melville Marriott for the fifth straight year on Sunday, April 26, 2015.

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Huntington, NY - May 1st, 2015 - With its largest turnout ever, the popular All Kids Fair returned to the Melville Marriott for the fifth straight year on Sunday, April 26, 2015.  This event, which won first place in the Event Category of the 2014 Long Island Web Awards, was a combination of education and activities expo and health and wellness fair.  It offered entertainment choices for toddlers through high school, including kids who are gifted or have special needs.
 
The All Kids Fair had several guest appearances. Chef AJ, age 11, of Fox TV’s MasterChef Junior Season 3 did a cooking demo before a packed room featuring Belgian waffles, including a whipped cream challenge.  Other appearances included QuackerJack of the Long Island Ducks, a juggler from the Big Apple Circus, and beauty queen Amy Marchany.

Over 80 exhibitor spaces and 24 kids’ classes provide valuable information for kids and their parents and grandparents. Fair founder Barbara Kaplan said, “The 2015 All Kids Fair was very well attended, and we are getting great feedback from our attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. It was a really fun day.”  Exhibitors promoted schools, camps, after school activities, birthday parties, photographers, kids’ products, college planning, and health and wellness services. Some of the classes children and their families enjoyed included tap and ballet, cupcake decorating, hula hooping, crafts, robotics, book readings, music, and GaGa. Free valet parking was very popular with the attendees.

There were many “no-charge” opportunities, with many new additions this year, such as a kid-friendly photo booth, sand art, many costumed characters, hand massages, shaved ice, mini-manicures, gluten free baked treat samples, and a magician, in addition to old favorites--balloon animals, face painting, food samples, crafts, cotton candy, and popcorn.  

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) collected 100 pounds of food plus funds to continue to help Long Islanders in need.

Dr. Ralph Allocco, who attended the event, enthusiastically shared, “The vast amount of vendors was unbelievable, each one connecting not only towards the kids but also the parents.  This event was very special for everyone.”

Sponsors were Long Island Parent, Your Local Kids Source, Kiddie Academy Education Child Care, LongIsland.com, and Macaroni Kid.

The Fair was produced by Specialty Connections, which also coordinates events at area malls.

 

Photos

  • Sweet Little Symphonies class for little ones.

  • Ivy League Camp’s GaGa class had the kids running.

  • All Kids Fair director Barbara Kaplan with the Hulk.

  • Hula Hooping with Hip Mama Hula Hoops.

  • Some children enjoyed having their faces painted.