Kids get in on the fun at Connoisseurs’ Marketplace

Young festival goers enjoyed the many offerings at the Kid Zone, located on University Drive. The 24-foot rock-climbing wall was a hit with older children, while their younger siblings enjoyed the thrills of rides like the FrogHopper (pictured at left) or the choo-choo train. (Scroll down for more pictures of the fun.)

In addition to carnival rides, the Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, which runs through today at 6:00 pm, boasts a variety of activity booths. Along with festival stand-bys like face painting, sand art, ballon creations, and temporary tatoos, you’ll find the unusual wax hand–making station.

Come again? Think of the paraffin wax treatments that ladies get at the nail salon, then add special shapes and paints, and you get the picture. A  little creepy-looking when the masterpiece is done, but a big hit with the kids. Given the temperature of the wax, the activity is open only to those ages 5 and up.

New this year to the children’s line-up is an interactive art area, where kids ages 6 to 12 can try art projects like paper making, paper weaving, and mosaic.

Not to be outdone, plenty of grown-up kids were having a good time in a fun zone of their own: the Microbrew and Wine Tasting tent, a few blocks down.

Photos by Laura Hamilton.