CAPA will open the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., to families from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 for its free Día de los Niños/Day of the Children celebration. Admission costs nothing, but families must register in advance.
The annual event celebrates children and Latino culture with activities and performances. CAPA's Education and Engagement Department started it three years ago, in 2023, as an extension of Festival Latino.
The Afternoon Program
The day starts in the Lincoln Ballroom. Children can try balloon art and crafts. Ballet Folclórico Xochihua will offer dance and instruction, while COSI runs science demonstrations. The Columbus Symphony will staff an instrument petting zoo, giving kids a hands-on chance to get close to the tools of music-making.
Then the main stage act takes over. Award-winning artist David Gonzalez will present "Cuentos: Tales from the Latinx World," a show of colorful stories and songs built around positive messages, compelling plots and memorable characters. Gonzalez weaves Spanish words into his stories, and young audience members are encouraged to listen for them. It's a simple device, and it turns listening into a game.
Drawings follow right after the show. Prizes include tickets to local museums and touring shows.
Local Partners
The lineup draws on established Columbus institutions. COSI and the Columbus Symphony both take part, along with Ballet Folclórico Xochihua. Their involvement puts children in front of the region's science and music organizations while they're having fun.
Food will be available for purchase from the Dos Hermanos food truck. Families can buy a snack or meal on site from a local vendor, and the event stays free for everyone who registers.
Registration and Details
All activities are free, but families can't simply walk in. Advance registration is required for admission. That requirement lets organizers plan for the crowd they'll host in the ballroom and theater.
The celebration also connects to a wider tradition. Many countries set aside an annual day to celebrate childhood and advocate for the happiness, well-being and promising futures of the next generation. Dates and customs differ by country. The shared purpose doesn't: make children feel special by devoting a day to them.
Why This Matters:
Community events like this one rest on a simple model. Local organizations, performers and vendors come together around families, and parents choose whether to take part. Nobody's compelled. The program draws on Columbus institutions such as COSI and the Columbus Symphony, and gives a food truck a customer base for the afternoon. From a center-right perspective, that kind of voluntary, locally rooted activity is where cultural traditions pass on most naturally. It also shows how a cultural organization can open its doors at no cost to families while keeping the event orderly through registration. The event's three-year run suggests there's steady local interest in it.