Free Arts NYC Celebrates Kidsfest With Dior Beauty & Friends

Sunday afternoon, Free Arts NYC held their annual Kidsfest event, hosted by Dior Beauty. The event, held at Saatchi & Saatchi, was a “one-of-a-kind celebration of art and creativity,” where families decorated t-shirts, cupcakes, made sock puppets and picture frames and even clowned around with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. 

A Board member at Free Arts NYC, Mary Alice Stephenson, knows how to organize an event so it doesn’t turn into a circus. Mary Alice co-chaired Kidsfest, in addition to events in years past. 

No rumor to gossip about here, co-chair Kelly Rutherford, attended Kidsfest 2012. She is pictured here with her close friend’s children. Kelly, a mom of two, co-chaired the event last year as well. 

Kidsfest activities included stations with focuses on art, fashion and music. Stations were set up by businesses and brands such as CrewCuts, Just Bones Boardwear, C Wonder, Soft Clothing, Sugar and Plumm, Havianas, Clarks Kids, Divalysscious Moms & Glitter Tattoo New York, Citibabes. 

Two raffle packages (one adult, one child), contained prizes from additional Kidsfest supporters such as Equinox, JetBlue, Montauk Yacht Club, Surf Bazaar, Botkier, Completely Bare, Eric Javitz, Wee Dance, Plasma Car, and Just Bones Boardwear.

Catch these performers if you can…Juggling act by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. 

Everyone’s inner fashion designer was evoked at the t-shirt station by Soft Clothing. 

Kids left this station with decorated Havianas flip flops and ornaments. Even if it does get cold this winter, these crafts will remind them of fun in the sun! 

Glitter Snowmen waited patiently to be picked up at the Clarks Kids station.

Sugar and Plumm’s cupcake decorating booth, was perfect for those with a sweet tooth. 

Co-chair, Chef Curtis Stone, was seen icing cupcakes and getting crafty, making a glitter snowman of his own. 

Co-chair, Padma Lakshmi, waited while her daughter got a cool glitter tattoo at the Divalysscious Moms & Glitter Tattoo New York station.

We watched as a young fashionista in the making, Mia, got a (temporary), glitter snowflake tattoo, on her forearm. 

The animal hats from the Just Bones Boardwear station, were too cute! But we really should be tipping our hats to Owner & Designer of Just Bones Boardwear, Jennifer Weisman, for reinventing the boardshort with a patent-pending adjustable waist. Jennifer started the line about 2 years ago, because her two boys were often in between sizes and found it hard to shop for boardshorts that didn’t slide down. Since then, Jennifer’s designs continued to make waves; JBB have made appearances at the 2012 Academy Awards, have been featured in The Swim Journal and Surf Expos, and are being sold across the country in surf shops, department stores and online.

Sock Puppets, are always a childhood classic, and who better to host this station than, Crewcuts.

Photo booth & picture frames were hosted by C Wonder.

Citibabes, entertained with music and games.

Lunch sponsors included, Popchips, CocaCola, Plum Kids, Purity Organic, Meltshop Grilled Cheese, Bubbys, and ‘wichcraft.

Meltshop’s Managing Partner, Spencer Rubin with Master Melters, Jenny DeCoursey and Samuel Thomas, were responsible for the yummy smell of grilled cheese at Kidsfest.  

Free Arts NYC, provides under-served children and families with a unique combination of educational arts and mentoring programs that help them to foster the self-confidence and resiliency needed to realize their fullest potential. You can check out Free Arts NYC, to learn more about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. 

Coverage by Social Media & Event Correspondent, Danielle Marshall