Free Family Summer Festival WONDERFEST June 2

Come out to the 2nd annual Wonderfest, sponsored by Harris Teeter, WCBD News Channel 2 and The Post and Courier, Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wonder Works in West Ashley located in the in the St. Andrews Shopping Center at 975 Savannah Highway. This free family summer kick-off festival will feature hot summer toys in Wonder Works’ toy testing area, free games and activities, live music, entertainment, prizes, child and local entrepreneurs, free food and more. Every child who attends will also receive a free toy from Wonder Works. This year, Wonderfest is supporting four local charities that were created by children to benefit children: Hugs for Harper, Happy Wheels, Abby’s Friends and
Keys for Hope.

“Our first ever Wonderfest last year was over-the-top incredible, and we have so much more in store to make this year’s event even more amazing. This is Charleston’s biggest celebration for the end of school and the start to summer. We even plan on making it snow!” said Wonder Works owner Christine Osborne. “The charities this year’s Wonderfest are supporting are very close to my heart. Each charity was founded by children in community to benefit other children in need. We invite everyone and their families to come to Wonderfest and support these local kids and have a great time at this wonderfuntastical festival!”

Admission is free to all Wonderfest guests. Each child will receive five free tickets to redeem at activity stations operated by Wonderfest’s select charities, Hugs for Harper, Abby’s Friends, Happy Wheels and Keys for Hope. These stations include an obstacle course, jumpy castle, a dunking booth and a slide. Additional activity tickets may be purchased for a nominal fee, with all proceeds benefiting the four charities.

Other free activities include Little Picasso arts and crafts, Brick by Brick Lego building, face painting by Carolina Party Artists, tattoos and hair spray from Charleston Children’s Boutique, LEARN equestrian activities and more. In the Wonder Works’ toy testing area, kids may play and test out all of the summer’s hottest toys. Wonder Workers will also showcase fun science experiments like making it snow in June! One lucky Wonderfest guest will also win a free Leap Pad from Kidz Club.

There will be a plethora of kid artists and entertainers, including musical performances by Karoline Rhett and The 3 Dudes; entertainment by the YOYO Kids; Charleston Youth Co.; Peace, Love & Hip Hop; Streamline Production’s cast of Annie; and special appearances from Charlie the Riverdog, Cupcake the Clown and Miss Teen South Carolina. Wonderfest will also feature more than 20 child entrepreneurs, five national toy companies, child-run companies, local artists and authors.

Harris Teeter will provide free hotdogs, chips and water, while local food trucks Happy Camper Snoballs
and Freezy Breezy will hand out free mini-snoballs and Hunter Farms ice cream. Pet Helpers will also have puppies and kittens for adoption.

For all Wonderfest details, visit www.WonderWorksCharleston.com or Wonder Works’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WonderWorksToys.

Filed in