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Kids Zone at Arts, Beats & Eats brings puppets, music and science

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Kids Zone at Arts, Beats & Eats brings puppets, music and science

Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats takes place Labor Day weekend in downtown Royal Oak.

If you’re looking for entertainment for your kids while they’re out of school over the Labor Day weekend, the Kids Zone, sponsored by The Detroit News, will be at Arts, Beats & Eats to provide live performances, science experiment demonstrations, crafts and more.

Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats is an annual celebration of music, food and a juried art show that takes place over the Labor Day weekend in downtown Royal Oak. Tickets, $7-$12, provide access to 10 stages with performances all day, food trucks, restaurant booths and the art fair.

This year, fans can expect headlining performances on the Jim Beam National Stage from rock bands Cheap Trick and Tesla on Friday, country artists Dustin Lynch and the Cadillac Three on Saturday, and alt-rock groups Gin Blossoms and Chevelle on Sunday. The weekend will be closed out by R&B singer Keith Sweat on Monday.

The festival has something for everyone. The Detroit News Kids Zone features the Detroit Institute of Art’s Kids Stage, which will host 40 performances ranging from magic and puppet shows to music and dance. The DIA has been involved with Arts, Beats & Eats since 2013, with an emphasis on creating family entertainment over the past four years.

“This is the kind of family entertainment that you can enjoy at the museum, but Arts, Beats & Eats gives us the platform to do it outside of the museum,” said Julie McFarland, DIA executive director of public affairs and community engagement. “We hope that people will come and enjoy one of the performances on the Kids Stage and then be inspired to come down to the museum all year long for this kind of family programming.”

New this year are two puppet troupes coming to the DIA Kids Stage. String Theory Theater is a Baltimore-based family puppet troupe, while Detroit-based Flying Cardboard Theater focuses on a more traditional show.

Some performers are returning from past years, including singer-songwriter Audra Kubat. The award-winning folk singer will be on stage at noon Sunday.

“She engages the audience in collaborative songwriting inspired by artwork,” McFarland said. “If you come and see Audra, your kids will have a chance to give their ideas and thoughts and contribute to writing an original song that everyone will sing together at the end.”

The Kids Zone will also have free arts and crafts, and the Michigan Science Center will be at the Kids Zone to teach about momentum and sound waves with activities like neon spin art and sound splash and demonstrate a “STEM Skills Showdown.”

While not located inside the Kids Zone, families will be able to visit inflatable playspaces for free. There also will be a kiddie carnival with 10 different rides. Each ride will require 3-6 tickets, which cost $1 each.

Arts, Beats & Eats

11-11 on Fri., Sat. and Sun.; 11-9 on Mon.

301 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak

Single-day tickets $7 if bought in advance. Some tickets still available for Main Stage Concert VIP ($55-65).

On Fri., free entry until 5 p.m., then $12. On Sat., Sun. and Mon., tickets at gate $10 before 3 p.m. and $12 after 3 p.m.

Visit artsbeatseats.com

The Detroit News Kids Zone

On E. Fourth and S. Main streets

Carnival: Sherman Lot. Tickets $1 each and rides 3 – 6 tickets each

Moonwalks: Free. Near the Seventh Street Carnival Area

mhammond@detroitnews.com

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