The Children’s Trust Family Expo
Saturday, 09/13/2014 – 10:00 am – 05:00 pm
Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition
10901 Coral Way,
Miami, Florida 33165
Webpage Link
Cost: Free

Join Thousands of Families on Saturday, September 13th at The Children’s Trust FREE Family Expo. More than 200 exhibitors showcasing health and social services, appearances by Nickelodeon characters, giveaways, family-friendly activities for all. Now in its eighth year, the event fills two indoor exhibit halls and part of the adjoining outside areas at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, drawing in up to 20,000 people. With local resources on display from 200 exhibitors, there is no better place to have a great, free time with the kids while learning about after-school enrichment activities, low-cost health insurance, services for children with special needs, and health and nutrition. Children can climb a rock wall, jump in elaborate bounce houses, and meet their favorite storybook and television characters such as Maisy, Llama Llama and Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob and Kai-lan, to name a few. Plus, music and dance performances face painters, clowns, stilt walkers, balloon sculptors, and much more.

Admission, parking, and all activities and entertainment are free. Backpacks and composition books will be distributed to the first 1,000 school-age children. Food and beverages will be sold by a variety of vendors.

To promote an active lifestyle, kids can get a taste of sports at the T-ball and speed pitching practice activity with the Miami Marlins, located in the Sports Fun Zone. Kids can also exercise their minds at all-day chess tournaments run by Stormont Kings or at the new “Science Treehouse” presented by the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, which will feature displays and fun, hands-on experiments.

The Miami-Dade Family Learning Partnership and The Center for Literature & Theatre at Miami-Dade College host the Read to Learn Book Fair, including appearances by Brad Meltzer, author of the popular I am series of children’s books that look at historical figures, and Bob Shea, author of Dinosaur vs. The Potty and other titles for toddlers. A nearby stage offers theatrical performances throughout the day that tie back to children’s literature. In addition, Baptist Health South Florida sponsors, “Five a Day, The Baptist Health Way”, where a dietitian is on hand to provide advice and give away fresh fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating and nutrition. Meanwhile, the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Center and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services will operate a special new area called “The Barnyard”, complete with a cow milking simulator, a beekeeper, and a mini chicken coop. The Humane Society of Greater Miami presents the Family Pet Area, equipped with canine counselors and pups available for adoption.