Frequently Asked Questions

Coming to Enjoy the Festival

What do we need to know?

The Children and the Arts Festival day is a fun, exciting day for thousands of local children from 1 to 101. We are so glad that you are coming to join us for this day. A few reminders:

  • Parking is limited in the immediate downtown area.

  • Performances begin close to 9:00 and while crowds tend to taper off after 2 pm, our activities run to 3 pm and you may still have a good audience.

  • The Festival happens RAIN or SHINE (or SNOW!)

  • Please leave pets at home – the high-energy atmosphere can stress even the most comfortable dogs. Although we love our pets, the Festival is not an appropriate place for your dog or other pet. The Peterborough Police have had injuries in the past and would like us to encourage a dog-free downtown on Festival day. This is especially important this year (2024) as we have several live bird acts.

  • The Festival focus is the students of the ConVal school district and local youth groups.

What is going on and where?

Programs are available at our information booth in front of the Monadnock Center for History and Culture or at our website www.childrenandthearts.org. Each year venues adjust based on the arts performing, but our standard venues are:

  • Peterborough Town House – 1 Grove Street

  • Monadnock Center for History and Culture – Bass Hall – 19 Grove Street

  • Grove Street – In front of the Town House and the Monadnock Center for History and Culture

  • Unitarian Church – 25 Main Street

  • Putnam Park – Grove Street

We also sometimes have programs or activities in:

  • Peterborough Town Library – 2 Concord Street

  • Depot Park/Depot Square

  • Boccelli Garden – Grove Street, Across from Putnam

  • Open space behind the Veterans Gates, between the Peterborough Town House and the Monadnock Center for History and Culture

Where can I get information or help?

The Children and the Arts Festival Committee has an information booth on the lawn in front of the Monadnock Center for History and Culture. All of our committee members are wearing bright pink committee shirts. Our volunteers are in orange volunteer shirts.

What is the art walk?

Local student art is displayed in the windows of downtown merchants. Maps are available at our information booth in front of the Monadnock Center for History and Culture on Grove Street. They are also available on our website – www.childrenandthearts.org. They are also up a few days before and after the Festival – and are a lovely way to extend the Festival day.

Where can I park?

Parking downtown is limited, but there are several lots that are a short walk to downtown. You may park in the side lot of the Peterborough Community Center or Valley Automotive on Elm Street. (Elm Street itself is no parking.) There is some parking at Peterborough Elementary School. Downtown, there is a community parking lot near the fire station, Riverwalk Parking Lot off Grove Street, and limited parking at the library. The shopping center at Route 101 and 202 is available for parking. Please do not park on Grove Street where the Festival events occur. We don’t want your car to be damaged. Please be aware that if you park in such a way that traffic is impeded, the police have to ticket or tow your vehicle – which makes the Festival day much less fun!

Parade

I want to participate in the parade. What do I need to know?

Before and During the Parade

  • The Parade starts promptly at noon. The route is from Peterborough Elementary School on High Street to Putnam Park on Grove Street. Groups should be waiting at PES a few minutes before 12:00pm - you do not need to head up to Peterborough Elementary until after 11:30.

  • Use crosswalks to cross and follow the directions of traffic monitors. It is dangerous to cross on the Main St Hill before the crosswalk. Look for volunteers in pink or orange shirts if you need help or are disconnected from your group.

  • Child drop-offs via automobile at PES are not allowed because it is dangerous for the children lining up.

  • Set an agreed meeting place at PES for your group. There will be hundreds of children excited to be part of the parade and it is stressful for the kids when they don’t know where to go.

  • If you are dropping off puppets, art, or other paraphernalia, please do so early in the morning and not right before the parade. High Street will be closed to car traffic BEFORE the parade begins, normally around 11:45. You will be UNABLE to drive to PES right before the parade.

  • The entrance to PES will be closed to vehicle traffic when there is no more parking available.

  • Please do not bring pets to the Festival or the parade.

  • Please do not throw or distribute items (candy, stickers, flyers, etc) during the parade.

  • There is a port-o-potty at the PES parking lot.

  • We suggest that all groups focus on child participation and encourage parents to be part of the audience and then meet at an agreed-upon location in or around PUTNAM PARK. We have received feedback that sometimes the kids are overshadowed in the parade by the number of adults.

    After the Parade

  • Please do NOT stop at the entrance of Putnam Park – it becomes a bottleneck that will halt the parade.

  • Suggested meeting location options are:

    • In the back of Putnam Park

    • Along the river in the back of Putnam Park

    • Along the river on the Post & Beam side of Grove Street

    • Boccelli Garden on the Post & Beam side of Grove Street

    • Parking lot just past Putnam Park

    • Tent in Putnam Park, C

    • Cannon in front of Post & Beam

  • Email if you have questions - childrenandarts@gmail.com.

How will I know what to do or when to go?

Committee members will be present to line folks up and space them out for the parade. They have a plan and we have never left anyone at PES yet! Please keep your group together and work with us to create a positive experience for all children and adults participating.

Program/Performances

We are performing. What do we need to know? 

The Children and the Arts Festival day is a fun, exciting day for our community. A few reminders:

  • You are targeting a variety of age groups in a busy schedule.

  • The Festival is organized and supported by volunteers. Every effort will be made to optimize your performance and experience, but we are all working as a volunteer team.

  • It is likely that families will flow in and out during the performance.

  • You can tour in the streets before your performance encouraging people to come and see your performance at the Festival – but please keep the focus on the Festival performance.

What do you list in the program?

We list all of our scheduled arts, paid and unpaid. If space allows and guidelines are met, we will list local organizations offering a FREE children’s activity if it is identified and communicated to the Committee by the end of March. Activities must be free of charge and no donations are allowed. No items can be sold in the festival venue areas.

We reserve the right to only list child-focused activities, aligned with the theme, and communicated in a timely manner – on a space-available basis.

What do you not list in the program?

  • Future events for performing groups

  • Websites

  • Advertisements for performing groups/businesses/organizations

I would like to be considered for a future Festival. How do I get involved?

If you are a paid artist/performer, submit your information via childrenandarts@gmail.com. Each year, tough choices are made about what performers are selected for the Festival. If you are a local children’s performing group, who would like a venue for your talents (in lieu of payment) – please let us know! The program is set during the winter (by March). Priority is given to organizations located within the ConVal school district boundaries.

Proposal for the Payment to Program Acts

Children and the Arts is a non-profit organization with the mission of offering a free arts festival to celebrate art for, by, and with the children of our community.  We have a limited amount of funding to pay for performing acts.  As such, financial compensation will be given to paid, professional performers at an agreed-upon rate.  Local groups wishing to participate, exhibiting the talents of either yourselves or your students, will have a venue of many spectators for whom you can perform in lieu of payment.  Promotional materials may be on display.  Special consideration MAY be given for the reimbursement of supplies.  Performing and participating organizations may not collect any funds (such as raffles, sales, donations, or tips) during the Children and the Arts Festival day.

Food Court

We want to sell food. What do I need to know?

All food sales must be registered in advance with the Festival Committee.

  • Food vendors will be confirmed in locations before the Festival day. Effort will be made so that multiple groups do not offer the same items.

  • There is a fee to reserve your space which helps to pay for the Festival.  Utility needs must be identified before the day of the Festival. If you are cooking on-site, you must obtain a permit from the Fire Department in advance. No access to utilities from Festival venues is available unless confirmed by a Committee member.

  • Drop-offs can occur before the beginning of the Festival (9:00 am) from Grove Street before the street is blocked off, then cars must be parked in a different location. If you have special parking needs or loading requirements, please communicate these early to your Committee liaison.

Hands-On/Public Displays

I want to have a table at the Festival. What do I need to know?

We have many groups, businesses, and non-profits who want to have visibility at the event. To keep the focus on the children and their art, we ask that everyone who wants to have a table provide a free activity for children. No donations may be accepted for any cause and no products may be sold. CATA recognizes that a performer or activity provider may want to use the exposure from CATA to build their organization, business, or cause. We support helping the larger arts/children services community.

You may display and disseminate promotional materials, but the bulk of the performance or activity needs to focus on the day's entertainment. Free children's activities must be the primary purpose of your participation, not advertising. We reserve the right to decline tables with activities that do not align with our theme or mission.