25th Annual Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival
Stage and Street Spectacular
and 14th Annual Multicultural Children's Book Festival

The Kennedy Center kicks off the 2009–2010 season with a celebration highlighting spectacle for the stage and street, including the work of L'Arsenal à Musique from Montreal, one of the leaders in the circus movement, as well as American and French street performers. The arts festival will include artists from the Washington, D.C. region, France, and Canada, as well as representation of the Kennedy Center's programming for the upcoming 2009-2010 season such as the National Symphony Orchestra and more. The Open House Arts Festival is a fun-filled day for the whole family.

Participants include:
Australia's Polyglot Puppet Theatre: We Built This City. An interactive celebration of the power of imagination. With their energy and ingenuity, kids and families use thousands of cardboard boxes to build an entire city in one day and then crush it into a recyclable heap of rubble. Live music by D.C.'s own Mambo Sauce underscores the action.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency. Young ballet students present a demonstration and performance.
L'Arsenal à Musique: The Ark.  Acrobats, a virtuoso musician, and breathtaking imagery.
National Symphony Orchestra: Carnival of the Animals.  Saint-Saëns's delightful music comes to life aided by L'Arsenal à Musique.
Striking Viking Story Pirates. Entertaining stories written by kids adapted into sketches and songs.
Edwin Fontánez's Washington Chalk Festival. Take a piece of chalk and create your own masterpiece.
NSO Musical Instrument Petting Zoo. Hands-on musical fun for all ages.
Byron Cage. One of Gospel music's most dynamic and popular artists.
Chopteeth. A 14-piece Afro-funk orchestra in a dance party for all ages.

Washington, DC Street Performance Festival. Sep. 11–13, more than 20 groups from France and the U.S. entertain at select Metro stations, at the Open House, and at La Maison Française at the Embassy of France. Complete festival schedule at houseoffrancedc.org.
Appearing at Open House are:
Beron. A juggler, acrobat, tightrope walker, and magician.
The Horsemen. Three very talented French riders on "horses" who parody the stereotypical arrogant "French attitude."
Hôtel des Hortensias. A wordless story told through movement, objects, and live music.
Nomad. A solo artist who mixes juggling, dance, mime, and contortionism--in the air, from a hanging sheet.
The Unicycle Lady: One-Woman Wheelie Witty Wacky Silly Suitcase Circus. The change of a hat and a tune transforms the artist into a magician, clown, animal tamer, and more.
The Alberti Flea Circus and Strolling Organ Show. From cannon shots to a daring high dive, it's music-see entertainment.
FREE (Some events may require free tickets)   Throughout the Building and Grounds

14th Annual Multicultural Children's Book Festival

New this year to the Open House Arts Festival is the addition of the 14th Annual Multicultural Children's Book Festival. Bring the entire family to meet your favorite authors, including Tonya Bolden, Monica Brown, Bryan Collier, Shane Evans, Anne Sibley O'Brien, and Linda Sue Park, listen to book readings, and more in this popular Kennedy Center event. Parents, children, teachers, and anyone else with a love of children's books can celebrate diverse cultures through stories from around the world. Hundreds of titles will be available for purchase.  Presented by the Kennedy Center Education Department.

FREE  (No tickets required)    Roof Terrace Level