Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning Celebrates 10 Years of its Queens International Children’s Festival

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) will mark a major milestone with the return of its annual Queens International Children’s Festival -now in its 10th year - at Rufus King Park. Over the past decade, the festival has become a beloved tradition for families across the borough and beyond, offering a vibrant, free day of arts, culture, and connection.

What began as a community-centered gathering has grown into a cornerstone of Southeast Queens’ cultural calendar, drawing families in search of experiences that go beyond the typical weekend outing. At its core, the festival is about access- creating a welcoming space where children and families can engage with the arts while exploring the richness of cultures from around the world. In a borough often referred to as the “World’s Borough,” that mission feels especially resonant.

This year’s festival reflects that global spirit, bringing together music and dance traditions from communities across Queens and the greater New York City area. Throughout the day, children and families can take part in hands-on arts experiences that explore world cultures through color, language, and creative expression. It’s an environment designed not just for entertainment, but also for discovery where young people can connect with different traditions in ways that are both engaging and meaningful.

In the current climate, as conversations around identity and cultural understanding continue to shape the national dialogue, the festival offers something both joyful and necessary. Through music, dance, and interactive programming, it creates opportunities for connection across cultures - inviting families to experience difference not as distance, but as something to be celebrated and shared.

The day’s programming reflects that intention. Brooklyn native DJ Barry Blends will serve as emcee, guiding audiences through a dynamic lineup of performances that includes Eric Q’s Family Magic Show, the Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra, and La Troupe Zetwal, a Haitian folk-dance ensemble rooted in ancestral storytelling. Together, these artists represent a wide range of cultural traditions, each contributing to the festival’s immersive, global atmosphere.

Beyond the stage, the festival offers a wide range of interactive experiences designed especially for children. Families can explore Art Zone, where JCAL Teaching Artists will lead creative workshops, or take part in activities like face painting, caricature portraits, and the “Super YOU!” comic strip and costume-making station. Additional offerings include gardening and sustainability workshops, as well as cultural art-making experiences that encourage children to reflect on identity and community.

For those looking to simply play and unwind, the festival’s Game Zone provides a lively mix of activities, including lawn and tabletop games, mini-golf, a photo booth, and classic treats like popcorn and cotton candy.

Together, these elements create a day that is as expansive as it is accessible—one that speaks to the role of arts institutions in the outer boroughs as vital cultural anchors. Through events like this, JCAL continues to demonstrate how community-based arts programming can foster creativity, connection, and cultural exchange across generations.

Admission is free, with advance registration encouraged; additional details can be found at JCAL/QUEENS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL