Shakori Hills GrassRoots Nurtures Family Togetherness with Activities for Kids of All Ages
With a special Kid's Zone of planned and spontaneous activities, a Cabaret tent for youth-focused musical acts during the early hours, and The Outpost for older kids, the festival provides a safe and joyful space for children and families
Photo by Elizabeth Larson
Families are at the center of the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival. The Kids Tent is the literal center of the main grounds, adjacent to the Food Court, Coffee Barn, Cabaret Tent, and Dance Tent areas. The festival is a rich, interactive experience for children of all ages, with several special activities for kids throughout the weekend.
The Kids' Zone has hands-on art projects, performances, group activities, story telling, face painting, and a Saturday afternoon parade with the Paperhand Puppet Intervention. Exploring the farm is encouraged for older children - parents know they can depend on a nurturing, attentive festival staff and community to keep a watchful eye.
Photo by Kim Hawks
Camping families can choose to settle down in a Quiet Camping zone, a peaceful cove that is less noisy while the night activities continue elsewhere.
Youth tickets (ages 13-15) are available at a reduced price, and kids 12 and under get in free!
Kids Area
Under the big
Kids Tent, there is a constant bustle of activity from early morning to late afternoon. Kids can find themselves in the
Express Yourself! Area with matte boards, giant weaving looms, a sand pile and creative spaces with paint, chalk and markers. They can participate in the
Kids Arts & Crafts Market, try a hand at
Shakori Hills Family Bingo or go in a
"Treemendous" Tress Family Hike. Everyone can join in on the
Retro Crafts like spin art, decoupage, macrame, and tie-dye.
Cabaret Shows
During the day, the
Cabaret Tent is jumping with performances just for kids and families. This Spring, folks will enjoy
Hobey Ford's Goldenrod Puppets
; Kids Rise & Shine Yoga; Big Wonderful Variety Show with acrobats, dancers and jugglers; and musical acts such as the Freewheelin' Mamas.
Outpost (for Young Adults)
The Outpost is an area, away from the younger kids, for young adults 10-18. Activities such as an Open Mic, a Pickin' Circle and a workshop from local non-profit Girls Rock NC will inspire kids to get creative and gain confidence in their musical abilities; while an Improv Workshop, Therapeutic Coloring, and Boff Games (competitive and cooperative games teaching a range of disciplines including patience, humility, and honor in organized, padded and combative play) will keep them entertained and interacting.
Tickets & Info
4-day passes - $114 in advance (through May 3rd) / $124 at gate
Youth (13-15) 4-day passes - $59 advance / $64 at gate
Kids 12 and under are FREE!
1-day passes - $32 (Thurs), $42 (Fri), $42 (Sat), and $32 (Sun) - all with $5 off if purchased in advance
Youth (13-15) 1-day - $16 (Thu), $21 (Fri), $21 (Sat), and $16 (Sun) - only at gate
Tent camping - $15advance / $20 at gate
Vehicle camping - $86 advance / $94 at gate
Shakori Hills is located at: 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312
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ABOUT GRASSROOTS
GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance is a mission-based (501-c3) organization that hosts four music/dance festivals and two sustainability fairs a year in three different states across the east coast. GrassRoots brings multi-cultural communities together through the magic of music, art, dance, education, wellness and sustainability.
The original Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival began in 1990 as a benefit concert to support a local AIDS organization in Ithaca, NY. The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival has become an internationally-recognized event with a focus on traditional and contemporary roots music and dance from all over the world.
Thirteen years later, the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival was launched on a 75-acre farm in the rural town of Pittsboro, North Carolina near the triangle cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. There is a festival on this site, owned by the partnering organization the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, in both spring and fall. This spring will be the 14th annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance.
In 2012, the festival moved down south again, for the winter, having found an amazing site, the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, just off the coast of Miami, FL. This year celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance.
GrassRoots works to nurture local artists and talent while reaching around the globe to bring world music and culture to new audiences, creating environments that inspire creativity and foster community building. The impact of GrassRoots expands far beyond that which occurs during these four-day festivals. For over 25 years, GrassRoots has served to both engage and give back to the local and regional communities in which we exist by providing financial and organizational support to impact positive change.
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Hi-res photos and band interviews available upon request.
