THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170271
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
The subject, increased awareness of children's issues, is a serious one but the event planned to raise funds in support of it, Simon's First Annual Fundango Festival, is pure entertainment.
The festival, open to the public, is scheduled for April 1 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in hanger 122 at Oceana Naval Air Station. Admission is $5 per person for ages 2 through adult.
In keeping with its ``We the Children . . . '' theme, the festival will concentrate on entertainment and activities for youngsters of all ages.
Disney's Parachute Express, a musical trio that enjoys a large following on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, will entertain. So will Barbara Jean and Her Band of Gold, the Bay Youth Orchestra and members of a summer arts workshop.
Costume characters Rip-Tide, Bino the Bear, Festerfrog, SPSA-Roo and Geddy the Gecko will also make appearances.
But the real stars of the show will be Simon and his Spectrum Puppet buddies, the ones who regularly perform a show called ``Knock-Knock . . . Who's There?'' for students in Virginia Beach elementary schools.
Developed by Regina Marscheider and Children's Performance Workshops Inc., ``Knock-Knock'' was designed as a nonthreatening means of educating school children about child abuse and encouraging those who are victims to talk with an adult who can offer help.
Simon and Co. won't be doing their regular show at the festival, however. That's presented only when there's what Marscheider refers to as a ``safety net'' in place - trained people in whom the children may confide their concerns.
In keeping with the theme of the festival, the puppets will be hamming it up strictly for fun throughout the day. They'll also be overseeing the drawing for door prizes including a Disney World trip, a mountain bike and a toy store gift certificate.
In addition to the entertainment, more than 20 area organizations and government agencies ranging from the Virginia Beach Social Services to Optimist International and the SPCA will have exhibit booths and displays.
Included will be a police helicopter, a ``Crimebusters'' car, a Navy F14 and a frogman's boat.
Preparing for the festival has involved several months of work on the part of Children's Performance Workshop board members, employees of the agencies involved and interested members of the community.
Even Virginia Beach Police Chief Charles Wall helped paint scenery, Marscheider said. The Police Department has worked closely with the workshop in the development and presentation of the ``Knock-Knock'' program.
The Fundango Festival will also serve as the kickoff event for Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is celebrated in April. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JO-ANN CLEGG
Leah Simon, 2 months, enjoys a meeting with Simon, a Spectrum
Puppet, who will ham it up in Simon's First Annual Fundango Festival
at Oceana NAS.
by CNB