News Release

'KIDShakes' coming to Garfield site on Sept. 2

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James A. Garfield National Historic Site is located at 8095 Mentor Avenue (U.S. 20) in Mentor, Ohio, approximately 25 miles east of Cleveland.  The site offers guided tours of the Garfield home, museum exhibits, two outdoor cell phone tours, and an introd

NPS

News Release Date: August 24, 2023
Contact: Todd Arrington, (440-255-8722, x1238)

The National Park Service staff of James A. Garfield National Historic Site is pleased to announce that the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival is bringing a special program for children and families to the grounds of President and Mrs. Garfield’s home. “KIDShakes” will take place on the lawn at James A. Garfield National Historic Site beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 2. 

KIDShakes is a free interactive, educational, and abridged performance of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With music, dance, and interactive storytelling, KIDShakes will guide children ages 5-10 to create a visual art costume piece, become actors traversing the outdoor setting, solve problems, and help performers advance the story. This is a uniquely immersive and imaginatively memorable experience for all members of the family.   

Participation is free of charge.  This program is made possible through collaboration by the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and Kulture Kids, two nonprofits with over fifty years of combined experience specializing in arts programming and activities for children. Support comes from PNC Charitable Trusts and The Awesome Foundation. 

To learn more about KIDShakes or to reserve a spot, please visit https://www.clevelandshakespeare.org/kidhsakes.  

“We’re very grateful that our friends in the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival wanted to bring KIDShakes here,” said Todd Arrington, Site Manager of James A. Garfield National Historic Site. “The Garfields loved Shakespeare, and the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival has been performing here every summer since 2010. This program is a fun and creative way to get young children interested in art, music, and theater.” 

In the event of inclement weather on September 2, the program will take place at 11 a.m. the following day: Sunday, September 3. 

James A. Garfield National Historic Site is located at 8095 Mentor Avenue (U.S. 20) in Mentor, Ohio, approximately 25 miles east of Cleveland.  The site offers guided tours of the Garfield home, museum exhibits, two outdoor cell phone tours, and an introductory film.  The National Park Service completely restored the house in the late 1990s, making it one of the most impressive presidential homes preserved for the public. 

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