Imagination soars as creativity opens in the exciting Children’s Area

MADISON – With adventures everywhere you look, the Children’s Area at Madison Street Festival offers the perfect place for young festivalgoers to learn, laugh and make lasting memories.

Youngsters can explore exciting STEM challenges, create unique arts and crafts, enjoy interactive games, test their skills at chess and experience live entertainment, along with time for face painting and balloon art.

“I really enjoy chairing the Children’s Area,” Hallie Kenny. “I love getting to work with all these different groups and seeing what they come up with to do with the children! I love getting to plan how to decorate the area.”

Kenny agreed to chair the Children’s Area at a friend’s request. “I was friends with the previous chair. At a birthday party, she asked if I would like to help her — knowing that I liked being creative and working with children. I said, ‘Sure,’ thinking I would be helping her. A year later, I became Chair of the Children’s Area and absolutely love it!”

“All groups in the Children’s Area and Teen Area donate their time and supplies to spending the day with the children in our community. All activities are free,” Kenny said. “I’m so thankful for each of these groups and the gift of their time and supplies to our community.”

The boys and girls are sure to find an activity that strikes their interest:

• The Riley Center – An enclosed tent for children with special needs to have a quiet place to go. Several sensory experiences will be available. Volunteers always welcome all children into their tent.

• U.S. Space and Rocket Center – Using two huge telescopes, children can see the sun. The center also brings an activity. In 2025, children received bracelets with special beads that changed colors from ultraviolet rays when they went outside in the sunshine.

• Child Evangelical Group — Their tent is full of joy as they share Jesus through several fun sessions.

• Tiny Hiney Farms – “Our petting zoo. Susan has the sweetest and cutest animals. Some even come wearing party hats,” Kenny said.

• Primrose Academy – Children complete a make-and-take craft in true, energetic preschool style.

• Trinity Baptist Church – “This year, they will be doing face painting and a hands-on activity related to one of their outreach projects,” Kenny said.

• Musicology – “This wonderful music school in Madison and Huntsville will provide music from their students and teachers throughout the day,” Kenny said. This area will have tables, chairs and games.

• Alabama Pediatric Dental Association – An amazing balloon guy will create ‘pieces of art.’

• Lowe’s – Provides about 300 pumpkins every year so children can paint their own pumpkin/jack-o-lantern.

• Huntsville Symphony Orchestra – Supplies a wide variety of musical instruments for the children to play in experimentation.

• Wine and Design – An example craft uses rocks that children paint and take home.

• Goldfish Swim – In past years, the business has had water play and a prize-winning game.

• Huntsville Botanical Garden – Provides a take-home craft and often brings different samples from nature to touch and explore.

• Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy – Will return to MSF this year with a creative activity.

• Madison Public Library – Will bring their bus so children can check out books. A bubble station will generate youngsters’ smiles and laughter.

• Steam Room – Offers play time with giant LEGO pieces, along with STEM activities.

“We do really appreciate volunteers in the Children’s Area to help set up the Friday before MSF (Oct. 2). Anyone interested in volunteering can visit the MSF website, madisonstreetfestival. org,” Kenny said.

Kenny is sure to welcome her daughters to the Children’s Area. “I have two sweet girls, Alice and Tessa. Alice goes to James Clemens, and Tessa goes to Heritage Elementary School. We love the Madison schools!”

“MSF is such a sweet day for a family to come and spend an hour or two hours doing different activities with their children,” Kenny said. “There are several different areas to sit in and rest. The Children’s Area will have food trucks and water, and the shuttle bus dropoff from Hughes Road is right in front of us!”

In addition, the Teen Area is connected to the Children’s Area. “So, there are activities for all ages. And everything’s free — except for the food (even the balloons),” Kenny said. “I love seeing the area filled up with the children on the day of the festival . . . all the smiles!”