AUBURN — Festivities at the Holiday Festival for Children are for the enjoyment of “both big and little kids,” according to Pam Allen, new director of Advocates for Children of Lewiston.

The festival, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, will feature headlining singer-songwriter Rick Charette, young juggler Will Silvers of Cumberland, Josh Sawyer of Sparks Ark and karate practitioner Sadie Landry.

Silvers will appear with his juggling partner, Jack Streeter. This past year, Silvers placed second in the World Juggling Federation Junior Competition in Seattle, Wash. Streeter, who has been juggling for most of his life, often performs with Silvers at the Pineland YMCA in New Gloucester. He also does juggling acts at Portland Sea Dogs baseball games.

The two jugglers will open for Charette, who will perform holiday favorites, a few of his classic children’s songs such as “I Love Mud” and several newer tunes. He will be joined by keyboard player Roy Clark. They go on-stage at 10:15 a.m.

Based in Maine, Charette performs for children and families in schools and concert halls throughout the Northeast. He is also working with local schools to develop songs that deliver an anti-bullying message.

This holiday season, Charette will appear on the television program“A Maine Christmas”  airing on Channel 6, Channel 2 and MPBN. In January, he will make his first appearance on“The Nite Show with Danny Cashman,” a Maine TV production based on late-night talk show formats. The show airs at 10 p.m. on Saturday nights on Portland station WPXT.

Sawyer says he has had a busy year as a wild animal rehabilitator. “As far as exciting stories go, they never end,” he said. “We had a snowy owl for a while this year, which was pretty neat. We have only had a few of those over the years.”

“There are always skunk stories, too,” he said. “In fact, just last week I had to let a skunk go and my brother was with me. We cover the trap with a blanket and they don’t want to come out of the dark, so you have to shake the trap up and down once or twice until they fall out. The look on my brother’s face was priceless.”

Sawyer will present two programs, one at 11:30 a.m. and the other at 12:10 p.m.

Landry, a 20-year student and karate practitioner of Pelletier’s Karate in Lewiston, has organized the festival’s karate demo team. The 22 performers range in age from 5 to 18.

“We teach a traditional hard style of karate with empty-hand forms and weapons that date back over 200 years ago,” Landry said. The demo team will perform at varying levels of ability beginning at 12:30 p.m. 

Besides the performances, 16 local agencies and businesses will offer free crafts for children to make and take home. Families can also have lunch, play in the bounce house and have photos taken with Santa.

Families may also participate in the Masons Child ID Program, which will be conducted all day by volunteers of Tranquil Lodge No. 29 in Auburn. The purpose of the free kit is to provide critical information to the public and law enforcement in the event that a child goes missing.

Go and do

WHAT: Holiday Festival for Children

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1

WHERE: St. Dominic Academy, 121 Gracelawn Ave., Auburn

TICKETS: $6 for adults, $4 for children in advance/$8/$5 at the door. Available at Advocates for Children, 57 Birch St., Suite 204, and Hannaford supermarkets in Lewiston-Auburn.

MORE INFO: Call 783-3990.