One of the coolest family-friendly events to be announced in a long time, Kidchella, is almost here. It’s an arts and music festival for kids held at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 2 to 8 p.m.

I’m an employee of Omaha Children’s Museum, and since the museum benefits from this event, I known about the details for quite a while. Now I get to share details with you! I’d be attending this event anyway, but full disclosure, because I’m volunteering there and writing this post, I have comp tickets.

10 Reasons to be excited about Kidchella

1. Live performances

There are four stages at the event with continuous performances and demonstrations. You can do some yoga with Yoga Rocks the Park at the Earth & Wellness Stage, laugh through a couple improv sessions on the Cinema & Arts Stage, watch an Omaha Children’s Museum Amazing Bubble Show on the Maker Stage, or dance to fun music with the Frontier Strings on the Main Stage.There are more than 20 performers scheduled!

2. Good food

Cupcakes? Yes. Ice cream. Oh yeah. Barbecue. Holla. There will be food available for purchase from food trucks and local eateries, including Jones Bros Cupcakes, eCreamery, 402 BBQ, Maria Bonita Mexican Cuisine, Johnny Ricco’s Brooklyn Pizza, PB Johnnys, and Renear INC., plus healthy snacks from OMNI Behavioral Health and a water tank from Metropolitan Utilities District.

3. Great shopping

All good festivals have vendors selling related products, so at Kidchella, you can shop for kids toys and clothes, handmade goods and natural products, and more made locally.

4. Creative activities

Families can take part in a pop-up paint party or enjoy crafts in the Maker Village.

5. Themed villages

Along with the stages, there are villages throughout the park to explore. They’re themed – Earth & Wellness, Theatre Arts, Vendor Village and Maker Village. Each has tables with activities from different organizations like the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, The Rose (who’ll have a costume tent) and Baby Maestro.

6. Cute photo opportunities

There will be professional photographers at three photo opportunities ready to snap adorable pictures of your family or little ones. It’s an extra fee, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to check your family Christmas photo shoot off your to-do list after you see these backdrops.

7. A fun headlining band

High Heel plays on the main stage at 7 p.m. This local band plays a variety of cover songs, all of them make you want to dance.

8. Theater love

From costumes to live performances, theater gets its due at Kidchella. Check out performances and/or booths by Omaha Community Playhouse, The Rose, Backline Improv, Weisenheimer Improv and Why Arts.

9. Space to run

Sometimes you kid just needs to run wild. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about your little one darting around craft tables or shoppers. Stinson Park has a lot of green space away from tables, tents and yoga.

10. Benefits a great cause

This whole event came about because organizers wanted to throw a big festival to celebrate Omaha Children’s Museum’s 40th anniversary this year. They will donate proceeds from Kidchella to the museum! I’m biased, but I think it’s a great place to support. 🙂

There’s so much more that I could list above to be excited about – a mini train, rock wall, caricature artist, etc – so you’ll just have to go and check all of it out for yourself.