Aurora – Nine-year-old Mickey Frock hoisted a shiny trombone nearly half her size onto her shoulder and played a few loud notes.
The 15 or so other kids blaring, blasting and tooting unfamiliar instruments in the Musical Petting Zoo tent at Aurora’s 10th annual KidSpree didn’t distract her a bit.
“You just blow like this,” Mickey said. She puffed up her cheeks and blew into the air to demonstrate.
The symphony drifting from the tent mingled with sounds of kiddie karaoke, hand drumming and laughter Saturday across the 29 acres of Bicentennial Park.
KidSpree, the city’s biggest free outdoor kids festival, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend with balloons, magicians, jugglers and, of course, birthday cake for everyone.
“It’s a place for kids to get creative, get messy and have a blast,” said KidSpree spokeswoman Julie Patterson. “And the families love it because it’s free.”
The event relies on generous sponsors and 500 volunteers to keep the fun rolling. Last year’s KidSpree drew 40,000 people over two days. Patterson expects similar numbers this year.
The list of things to do at KidSpree is a long one. There’s bubble blowing and face painting; funnel cake and corn dogs; inflatable jumping gyms and drum jams. On one side of the park, kids clad in oversized T-shirts slather paint on a donated car with giant brushes.
On the other side, budding American Idols dance on stage belting out the lyrics to the Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out.”
And if you can’t find the park as KidSpree continues today, just look for the yellow balloons floating overhead that got away from distracted children. Once you find it, park for free at the Aurora Mall and take a shuttle to the festivities.
Back at the Musical Petting Zoo, Mickey’s 10-year-old brother, Zacary Fry, practiced the saxophone.
“I like Beethoven. It gives me a good flow,” he said.
But Zacary didn’t spend all of his time Saturday practicing for band. The blue paint smeared on his face and caked in his hair gave him away.
“I was painting the car,” he acknowledged. “There’s always a new activity here. It’s so fun.”
Staff writer Abbe Smith can be reached at 303-820-1201 or asmith@denverpost.com.
