Name: Children's Festival of Friends
Start: 2026-05-02T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-02T17:00:00-04:00
Location: Newport News Park

35th Annual Children’s Festival of Friends, happening Saturday, May 2, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Newport News Park, located at 13560 Jefferson Ave.
Families from across the region are invited to enjoy a full day of free, fun-filled activities designed especially for children of all ages. This beloved community tradition offers an exciting lineup of interactive experiences, live entertainment, and engaging exhibits that celebrate creativity, play, and togetherness.
Attendees can explore a wide variety of hands-on activities, including:
American Parkour
Animal trailer
Giant bubbles
Children’s costume character meet-and-greets
Live DJ entertainment
Hair tinseling
Inflatables and games
K9 demonstrations
Petting zoo
Phoenix Reborn Youth Project boxing activities
Plant a Flower
Train rides
Trampoline shows
In addition to the activities, 27 local nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving children and youth will be on-site. Each organization will offer valuable information about its programs along with a fun, kid-friendly activity.
Guests can also enjoy a wide selection of food and beverages available for purchase from a diverse lineup of vendors, including Sweet T’s, BLZN Tacos, Marco’s Pizza, Deep Fried Inc, Maddy May’s Grazing, Mediterranean Appetite, Glo’s Eat and Go, Illuminate Your Body, Capt. Harrell & Son’s Seafood Kitchen, Ben & Jerry’s, Big Back Burgers, Gone Nuts, and Piha Aloha.
The festival stage will feature a full schedule of live entertainment throughout the day:
10:00 AM – DJ EROC
12:00 PM – SOUNDSCAPES
1:00 PM – MINI BOSSES
2:00 PM – HYDEF DANCERS
3:00 PM – VAN VAN
4:15 PM – HAMPTON STAR DIVAS GLAM SQUAD
4:30 PM – THE CITY ARTS DANCE COMPANY
“This event is all about bringing families together to enjoy a day of free, high-quality entertainment and activities in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Torrance Archie, Director of Newport News Parks & Recreation. “We’re proud to continue this long-standing tradition and create lasting memories for children and families in our community.”
Mark your calendars for this fun-filled day!
Free admission, parking and activities. Food truck prices vary.
Sponsored by T-Mobile Fiber