2023 kids & families
All BOTMC events are open to all ages, but we have some that are especially good for kids and families. This year, ALL of our family activities are FREE admission!
Thursday Sept. 21 and Friday Sept. 22, 3pm-5:30pm FREE
Crankie Making Workshop
Freight & Salvage
Drop-in -- no registration required
This is a FREE 2-part, in-person, group crankie-making workshop during the BOTMC. The workshop is free to all ages on a drop-in basis (you can come on one or both days, and don't need to stay the whole time), 3-5:30, Thursday and Friday afternoons, at the Freight. Together we will make a crankie of "Fair and Tender Ladies" and show it at the Friday night concert (ticket purchase required for concert) Not only that: Sheila Kay Adams will teach us this ballad during the workshop.
What’s a crankie? It is an old storytelling art form, sometimes called a Moving Panorama, popular in the 19th century. A basic crankie is a long illustrated scroll, which is wound onto two spools. The spools are loaded into a box which has a viewing window. Then the scroll is hand-cranked while the story is told, or a tune is played or a song is sung. The images on the scroll illustrate the music or story telling part of their presentation.
To view some crankies and/or get more information about them, such as their interesting history and even instructions for how to make one, check out Sue Truman’s terrific website: https://www.thecrankiefactory.com/.
Saturday, September 23, 2023 FREE
Family Concert and String Band Contest
CIVIC CENTER PARK
MLK between Center and Allston
Berkeley, CA
Adjacent to the Farmers' market
10:15 am FAMILY CONCERT featuring René y Familia
11:00 am til around 2:30 pm STRING BAND CONTEST beginning with short performance by Manning Music Fiddlers (young students from Manning Music)
Open hosted jam sessions -- 11:30 Cajun jam hosted by Ed Poullard. 1:00 Old time jam hosted by David Bragger and Susan Platz
Half-time set at around 12:30 with Black Banjo Fiddle Fellows
2pm til 5pm FREE
Open jamming and visiting at Ohlone Park (pictured below, right)
(off of Sacramento, across the street
from the North Berkeley BART)
bring your own chair (or 2)
3:00 to 4:30 FREE
FAMILY DANCE at Ashkenaz
music by Corn Likkers (pictured below, left) with Erik Hoffman calling
