Schedule of Events

• 9 a.m. Kids Zone and Consumer Expo open all day

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Balloon art by Strawberri in Expo Area sponsored by Old National Bank

• 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lynda with Anything-Art (painting faces and spaces) in Expo Area sponsored by American Commercial Bank & Trust

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jump houses and activities in Kids Zone

• 10-10:45 a.m. Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles in Kids Zone sponsored by Coal City Dental

• 11-11:45 a.m. Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles in Kids Zone sponsored by Coal City Dental

• 12:15 p.m. Chang Lee’s Taekwon Martial Arts performs in Kids Zone

*Mascots will be walking through expo throughout the day

Free balloon art by Strawberri

Michelle Nilles, also known as Strawberri, has been entertaining kids as well as adults since 1999 through her business Berri Good Clowns & More. Strawberri’s fun yet gentle ways and genuine love for children puts even the shyest child at ease. She can amaze your guests with her balloon creations, face painting and interactive comedy magic shows. During Family Fest she will be offering free balloon creations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the expo area thanks to our sponsor Old National Bank. Depending on the line for Strawberri, the balloon art line may be cut off at 12:30 p.m. to make sure all waiting get a balloon.

“At Family Fest we love that the kids get to take something home with them to enjoy from their day with us. A balloon creation is a unique gift children can play with and create memories with,” Grundy Chamber President & CEO Christina Van Yperen said.

Strawberri has performed for Harpo Studios, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls pre-game shows, and at Wrigley Field. She also performs for corporate events, restaurants, birthday parties, schools, pre-schools, churches and Grand Openings.

Traveling World of Reptiles to hold two shows at Family Fest April 15

If you have never seen the Traveling World of Reptiles it can best be described as an up-close, live, and extremely interactive or “hands-on” experience about reptiles and amphibians from around the world.

Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles has become a tradition at the Grundy Chamber’s annual Family Fest and is back again this year thanks to sponsor Coal City Dental. This year’s showings will be at 10 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. during Family Fest on Saturday, April 15 at Shabbona School in Morris. The shows, as well as Family Fest overall, are free to attend.

“Every year we have families who return to Family Fest thanks to the hands-on, fun, and friendly experience Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles provides. Children and adults have the opportunity to get up close to animals they do not get to encounter often,” Christina Van Yperen, Chamber President & CEO said.

The Traveling World of Reptiles blends education and a unique style of humor to form an original experience that makes the presentation every bit as entertaining as it is educational, DiNaso said in a news release.

If you would like the opportunity to see, touch, and learn about reptiles from all over the world and laugh a lot while doing so, attend the

Chang Lee’s Taekwondo Martial Arts Demonstration Team to perform

The Demonstration Team of Chang Lee’s Taekwondo Martial Arts in Morris will be showing off their skills during Family Fest on Saturday, April 15.

The Martial Arts school, located at 1204 N. Division St. in Morris, specializes in teaching Taekwondo to children as young as 3 years old and their oldest student is 64 years old. Taekwondo is great for all ages as it teaches respect, self-discipline, and makes for a strong healthy mind, body, and spirit, Grand Master Chang Min Lee said in a news release. Lee is a 7 th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and 8th Degree Black Belt in Hapkido. He is from South Korea and established the school in Morris in 2012. Master Yoo Chan Lee, a 4th Degree Black Belt, also teaches at the school.

Lee will lead the demonstration team during its Family Fest performance from 12:15 p.m. The team will perform a mix of Taekwondo forms, weapons, Taekwondo dance, gymnastics and board breaking.

“Watching the demonstration team in action is always exciting, and astounding. Not only is their hard work on display, but the joy they feel while performing is evident on their faces. The community always enjoys their performances and we hope everyone will come watch,” Chamber President & CEO Christina Van Yperen said.

Free face painting back at Family Fest

It’s not unusual to see mini superheroes, princesses and even wild animals running around the Grundy County Chamber’s annual Family Fest – but don’t worry it’s just kids with painted faces!

Thanks to a sponsorship by American Commercial Bank & Trust, Lynda with Anything-Art (painting faces and spaces) will be painting children’s faces for free from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Family Fest Saturday, April 15 at Shabbona School, 725 School St., Morris. If a line is at the booth at 12, the booth will close off the line to finish all kids by 12:30 p.m.

The face painting booth will be inside the business expo portion of Family Fest so parents and guardians can stop at the 50 plus other vendor booths while their children have their face painted into a tiger, Spiderman, fairy princess and more.

“Face Painting is always a huge hit at events and we expertly transform little guests into princesses, super heroes, butterflies and villains, and there will be zombies and vampires running around too,” Lynda Mahalik, owner of Anything-Art said in a news release.