Mama Likes…Forecastle Festival

Are you as excited as I am to go to Forecastle? My Morning Jacket, Neko Case, Wilco – I’m doing a little dance just thinking about it. But wait. Are you hiring a sitter? No need. Take your kids to Forecastle, friends! We took our kids last year and they loved Devo. Let your kids experience great live music and when they get tired, thirsty, or overheated, Forecastle has two wonderful parent- and kid-friendly oases: the SPROUTS tent and the Sustainable Living Roadshow.

Sprouts

Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The festival organizers, along with the members of My Morning Jacket, have created a little slice of local heaven called The Louisville Village for Forecastle 2012. This area will feature local food, local brews, local nonprofits, and a skee ball tent called SkeeNation. Parents won’t want to miss the SPROUTS tent, offering a break from the sun, a bottle of water, and a cool space to nurse your baby, as well as crafts, music, and science activities for kids. SPROUTS founders Cindy Lamb and Judy Berger have been hosting slightly bigger SPROUTS areas each year at Forecastle since 2008. These creative women have planned a plethora of fun for your Forecastle family.

The SPROUTS ladies will have coloring sheets of plants, birds, and animals indigenous to Kentucky; a Forecastle poster coloring sheet; face painting by Berger’s daughter, Emily (Lamb described Emily’s face paintings as “works of art.”); and guests from the community. Past Forecastles have brought Leigh Ann Yost and Heidi Howe to the SPROUTS tent, along with composting activities with the Louisville Science Center and gardeners from the University of Kentucky extension program. Because Lamb and Berger are part of the Birth Care Network, they will have information available for parents interested in natural childbirth options, doulas, and breastfeeding.

Just like Forecastle, SPROUTS offers different activities each year and specific program details are not available beforehand. Any events Berger and Lamb schedule (fingers crossed for an acoustic show with Patrick Hallahan), they’ll write up on the chalkboard outside their tent. Think of the SPROUTS tent as a loving improvisation focused on your child’s happiness.

“Anything we do is readily available,” said Lamb. “If a child wants to do music, we’ll do music.”

Lamb’s suggestions for parents include the advice to bring water in a sippy cup for small children, plenty of sunscreen, and blankets for sitting on and nursing. She also recommends you charge your cell phone ahead of time. Lamb said that if parents have any questions about the festival, they should direct them to the Forecastle promoters via email or Facebook.

SPROUTS is a volunteer-run service for you and your kids. If you’re interested in volunteering at the tent, leave a note on the Forecastle Facebook page. Remember, the SPROUTS tent is a fun space for children and parents. It is not a babysitting service.

 

Sustainable Living Roadshow

Once you’ve rejuvenated in the SPROUTS tent, go explore the Sustainable Living Roadshow. SLR is a caravan of sustainable fuel buses that travel to festivals near and far and provide educational games and eco-entertainment. Their offerings have included art shows, speakers, musicians, and alternative energy displays. Here is a smattering of their 2012 Forecastle offerings:

  • The Conscious Carnival: This features an array of carnival games focused on environmental concerns and solutions.
  • GMO Freak Show: Puppets and performers educate about genetically modified foods.
  • Visionary Art Experience: Come inside an inflatable dome to watch an animated art show with live disc and video jockeys.
  • The Roadside Café: Need a bite to eat or a cool beverage? Stop by this bike-powered cafe for an organic snack, a smoothie, or some kombucha.
  • The Green Marketplace: Sponsored by ValuMarket, this area will host a local farmers’ market, including cooking demonstrations.

-Amy Miller

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