Published: September 11, 2009 11:18 pm      

Festivities underway at 2009 Kid’s Classic Festival

Parade, airplane rides among today’s activities

As far as a late summer evening goes, Friday night was perfect for many Beckley families.

Around 300 people gathered at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Youth Museum at 6 p.m. for a confetti-popping and crowd-pleasing show by Ronald McDonald and to visit with very popular Super Why characters from the PBS children’s show.

An old-fashioned refreshment booth sold hot dogs, snacks and bottled water while kids checked out a planetarium show and special exhibits inside the museum.

The festivities were all part of the annual 2009 Kid’s Classic Festival, which continues today with a parade, free airplane rides and other kids’ activities in uptown Beckley.

“This is one of our favorite things we do every year,” said Youth Museum Executive Director Sandi Parker. “We’re working in conjunction with Beckley Renaissance, and it’s always been such a wonderfully successful event.

“It’s wonderful to see everybody come out and have fun.”

At dusk, Jill Moorefield of Beckley Renaissance and several helpers inflated a huge outdoor movie screen, popping it upright with laughter and murmurs of approval from those watching the inflation.

With the melody of singing cicadas and childrens’ voices as the background, families enjoyed “Shrek 3” in the museum amphitheater.

Kids’ Classic Queen Taylor Stewart, 12, of Daniels, said she enjoys the Kid’s Classic Festival each year.

“It’s probably my favorite festival,” said Stewart. “I love the parade and the games afterwards, and I like to come here because they always have karaoke and the youth museum events.”

Kyra Cardin, 4, of Beckley, said she enjoyed the Ronald McDonald show.

She noted that while Ronald talked, the Super Why characters “walked” around but didn’t talk.

Queion Carter, 12, a Park Middle School student, said she planned on going to today’s parade.

“I’ve been to church things here, but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Ronald McDonald,” Carter said.

Woodrow Wilson High School students Whitney Johnson, 15, and Tiesha Austin, 14, of Beckley, came with family and friends to enjoy the festivities.

“It was good,” Johnson said.

“The crowds were hype,” Austin added. “They had a lot of fun.”

Tiesha urged folks to come uptown today for the parade and kid’s activities from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“It’s a real nice place to take your kids for them to get a laugh, and you’ll probably enjoy yourself, too,” she said.

— E-mail: jfarrish@register-herald.com