Business & Tech

KidShow Set for This Weekend At Great Lakes Mall

Parents can talk to camps, daycare and health providers, and children can enjoy entertainment

Nearly two decades ago, Pat Perry searched for the same thing she knows parents of young children today are looking for — a combination of information and entertainment.

"Fifteen years ago, my daughter was five and we were new parents, said Perry, ProMark Enterprises owner and KidShow creator. "We thought, 'what's out there? What should we be doing for her or with her?

"That's really how the KidShow got started."

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The 15th annual KidShow at Great Lakes Mall will fill the mall aisles from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The free event includes hundreds of exhibitors with information on products, services and events, as well as snacks, crafts roaming costume characters and a performance stage.

"We describe it as the largest free family and kids event in Northeast Ohio," Perry said. "It is a kids trade show in its simplest form. It's really a one-stop-shop for parents to gather information ... to get good information into busy parents' hands. They can talk with camps, daycares, they can ask questions of health care providers."

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While parents do that, children, 12 and under can enjoy a Teddy Bear Clinic hosted by nurses from Hillcrest Hospital, cookie decorating, bookmark making with Barnes & Noble and seed planting with Petitti Garden Center.

Performing acts during the two-day event include:

  • Mentor High School Dance Team at 11 a.m. on Saturday
  • Rockin Robots from "America's Got Talent at 1 p.m. on Saturday
  • The Fine Arts Association Dance Factory at 3 p.m. on Saturday
  • Tony Sacco's Coal Oven Pizza pizza box contest awards at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Click here for the full entertainment schedule. Visit the KidShow Facebook page for more information.


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