COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — CAPA hosted a “Day of the Children” celebration at the Lincoln Theatre on Sunday. The event, which ran from 1:30 to 4 p.m., featured a variety of cultural and arts activities, including music, dance, crafts, and a theatre show.
The festivities kicked off with activities in the Lincoln Ballroom, where attendees enjoyed performances and instruction by Ballet Folclorico Xochihua, crafts with the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland and CAPA, balloon art by Evan Smith, science demonstrations with COSI, and an instrument “petting zoo” with the Columbus Symphony. Food was available for purchase from the Dos Hermanos Food Truck, and a prize drawing offered family tickets to events such as STOMP and the Columbus Symphony’s Popcorn Pops.
The highlight of the event was a free performance by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning duo 123 Andrés. From 3 to 4 p.m., Andrés and Christina engaged the audience with their bilingual books and catchy songs, which introduced musical styles and instruments while promoting reading and writing skills. Their performance encouraged the audience to dance, sing, and learn about geography, social studies, and Spanish.
“This year, we brought in 123 Andres, which is a nationally recognized duo,” said Amy Handra, Capa Director of Education and Engagement. “They write children’s books and they do performances across the country for children and audiences of families”
CAPA’s Education and Engagement Department launched Día de los Niños in 2023 as an extension of Festival Latino, aiming to provide a family-centered event that celebrates Latino culture.
“Day of the Children/Día de los Niños is an internationally established celebration of children with the goal of connecting families to the world of learning through stories, cultural and arts activities, and community,” said Handra. “We are excited to once again participate in this international movement committed to the welfare of all children.”