Telford Shropshire Kids Festival attracts thousands - with video

Karting, cycling, inflatables a foam party and plenty of skating were among the fun activities put on at the international centre by the organisers Shropshire Festivals Ltd.

For the first time the event came under cover after previously being held at The Quarry in Shrewsbury in May.

Attracting more than 10,000 families in the last two years this time, the festival was run during over the last weekend of the February school half-term break to provide a one-stop shop for for ideas to entertain little ones as well as support a host of good causes.

Attractions included zorb balls, face painting, ice skating, roller skating, and animal man, performing arts studio 7 Academy, Tennis Shropshire, the RSPB, Fordhall Farm, trade stands, Believe-in social stories for children, Boogie Bounce with Jemma Knight Fitness, Glitter Bugz, and food.

Among the visitors were Sonia and Jason Ballinger, of Lawnford, Malinslee, and their children Chloe, nine, Beth, 14, and Emily, seven, who said they enjoyed the whole day.

Mr Ballinger, 41, said: “It’s nice for the kids to come and try new things that they wouldn’t otherwise have done, such as ice skating which we hadn’t tried before because now they want to go and visit Telford Ice Rink to skate again. We will definitely come again.”

Naiomi Harper, 38, of Coronation Drive, Donnington, said: “I’m here with my brother and his family and my husband and we have brought five children between us who are all having a good time.

“The older ones are in the foam party. It’s such a lot of fun we’re really enjoying it. We’ve also been following the Monkey trail which is very interactive.”

Lucy Hawthorne, 37, and her daughter Tia, six, and Janiyah, eight, travelled all the way from Llanymynech, in Wales, to visit the festival and girls said they were looking forward to playing on the giant inflatables.

Ms Hawthorne added: “We’re definitely going to the Shrewsbury show in May, it’s really good.”

Beth Heath, of Shropshire Festivals’ director of fun said: “It has been really busy and we think up to 9,000 have so far attended over the two days.

“The exhibitors have given good feedback. The vets’ have done far more teddy bear operations than they expected and the biking stand have reported teaching several children to ride while they’ve been here which is great.

“We have popular exhibits like the foam party which always draws a crowd, but we offer other really important things like animal care and teaching kids how to cook which goes down a treat.

“The volunteers that have got on board, the businesses and organisations have made it all possible as without them all the show wouldn’t have happened.

And also thanks to the people of Telford for believing in us and for turning up.”