Past: River Campus Summer Arts Festival

Date: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17

Location: River Campus

Cost: Free

Description:

Events scheduled for this year’s June 17 festival include live music, dance, theatrical performances, magic, visual arts displays, hands-on family-friendly art expression activities, museum exhibitions, musical instruments and animal petting zoos, creative writing workshops, an art walk, and other hands-on activities throughout the River Campus.

The community festival is free and open to all ages in the entire region. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to the festival, an ambitious summer season of three shows is planned. Children will delight in seeing “Dear Edwina Jr.,” featuring a 13-year-old girl that gives advice to her friends. The summer lineup also includes the smash comedy hit musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and the festival southern comedy play “Greater Tuna.”

The “Dear Edwina Jr.” musical with book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music by Zina Goldrich will run on the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall stage at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Both performances will be open to the public and not require ticket purchases. The musical is about a 13-year-old problem solver Edwina. She dishes out advice with the help of her friends.

Capping the day’s events will be a performance of “Greater Tuna” at 7:30 p.m. in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre.

Running alongside “Greater Tuna” is the musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin and conceived by Rebecca Feldman. Opening night for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is Thursday, June 15, and will close Wednesday, June 28.