Clinton Fall Festival is the place for families

When the Clinton Fall Festival gets underway on Friday, there will be plenty of opportunities for families to share experiences and activities. Art is once again at the forefront of the festival.Arts and Scraps from Detroit will join the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum and My Adventure Theater in the Kid Zone at the Smith Kimball Community Center on Tecumseh Street. The Kid Zone area also offers inflatables for bouncing out extra energy, transformation through face painting and balloon animals in every shape and color.A bee exhibit and demonstrations of lost arts are other activities of interest for families. Roscoe the Clown will perform on Friday and Colors the Clown on Saturday.“The Petting Zoo is back by popular demand. There will be camel rides,” said Doris Kemner, co-chairperson of the Clinton Fall Festival with her husband Carl. “Its all fun and free for the children.”The Masonic Lodge will have a program on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. where parents can get free child identification. Each child receives a dental impression as well as a CD with digital fingerprints, a photo, a video and detailed vital information.Art aficionados can enjoy lost arts demonstrations at Smith Kimball Community Center, and there will be visiting artists located around the village.“They will be demonstrating painting, drawing, and pottery,” Kemner said.The Clinton Arts Center (CAC) is bringing in the visiting artists, and also sponsoring a pottery making area at Smith Kimball Community Center. Visitors can try their hand at working with pottery, and there will be a Raku kiln on site.For those more interested in purchasing arts and crafts created by artists, the festival offers over 200 arts and crafts booths. According to Kemner there are also 70 visiting merchant booths offering a variety of items and services.Every year food is a favorite for festival visitors. From food vendors to specialties offered by area churches, there is a wide variety of culinary delicacies.“We have the Taste of Southeast Michigan going on Saturday evening starting at 5 p.m. at Tate Park,” said Kemner. “People can sample beer and wine, and many area restaurants will provide samples of their food.”Tickets for the Taste of Southeast Michigan area available at the hospitality booth for $25.Area non-profits will be offering assistance as well as the opportunity for visitors to contribute to village betterment projects. Clinton Lions Club will be doing free diabetic and vision screening downtown on U.S. 12.Brick pavers for Veterans Park will be sold by the Clinton American Legion for those interesting in helping to continue the refurbishment of the park.Proceeds from the Clinton Fall Festival are used to provide scholarships to Clinton High School students for their college studies. The committee also assists the village with community projects.Last year, according to Kemner, funds from the 2014 Clinton Fall Festival went to scholarships, a marble bench and lighting for Veterans Park.