Kids were king this weekend at the 77th annual anniversary celebration of the Winnetka Children’s Fair, an event with pint-sized carnival games and attractions that help area children mark this unofficial start of summer.
The generations-old tradition is hosted each year as a gift to the children of Winnetka, organized by the Winnetka Community Nursery School Board of Directors, with aid from hundreds of local volunteers and the support of several area businesses.
Carnival rides, like “Hypnotic”, were available attractions at this year’s Winnetka Children’s Fair. (Gina Grillo/Pioneer Press)
“Seeing the kids come in droves riding their bikes to the Village Green after school lets out on Friday, and seeing the way they take over the Green, really gives me chills,” Winnetka Children’s Fair Co-Chair Molly Murgatroyd said.
Murgatroyd said the event was first conceived as a fundraiser in 1945, when it was hosted in the Ryerson family backyard. Since then, the Children’s Fair has grown to become one of the most treasured childhood events to Winnetka residents.
This year’s two-day event, Friday June 7 from 2 – 8 p.m., and Saturday June 8 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., offered carnival-style games, rides and attractions. Attendees could enjoy hot dogs and snow cones, a Giant Slide, Zip Line and Pirate Ship, pony and camel rides, performances by DJ Gator, New Trier Cheer, and the Studio North Academy of the Performing Arts and much more.
Murgatroyd says a few adult features were added this year, like the Towne & Oak booth offering coffee and pastries, along with expanded options of kid-centered performances to the entertainment lineup.
Dancers from the competition company of Studio North Academy of the Performing Arts of Wilmette perform at the 2024 Winnetka Children’s Fair. (Gina Grillo/Pioneer Press)
“Basically we want people to experience a sense of nostalgia at the Fair, so we work to keep things like old-fashioned games and vintage decorations, pretty much the same each year,” Murgatroyd said. “Run fully by a board of 16 local moms –all jobs large and small are handled by moms working together.”
According to Murgatroyd, this year’s fundraising goal was set at $20,000 – $30,000, to meet the amount raised last year, but that regardless of final numbers, the Fair will be held as a beloved community tradition next year.
Clifford Porter says he grew up attending the Children’s Fair on the Village Green.
“It’s a good time for us to reconnect with old friends and they have such fun activities for the kids,” Porter said. “They wait for it all year.”
Attendees of the annual Winnetka Children’s Fair this year could pick up favorite carnival treats like make-your-own Kona Ice Snow Cones. (Gina Grillo/Pioneer Press)
Liz Fritz of Wilmette attended the fair for the first time with friends and family.
“This provides such great entertainment for the kids, they just love it,”, Fritz said.
Bill Walsh of Winnetka attended with family.
William Walsh, 7 of Winnetka, tries his hand and rings the bell on the “High Striker” during the 77th annual anniversary celebration of the Winnetka Children’s Fair. (Gina Grillo/Pioneer Press)
“It’s really cool coming with the kids, the experiences that actually go beyond their screen-centered lives and video games are so rare,” Walsh said. “It’s good to see them just get lost in the fun.”
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
