THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL and Friends of Fred The Litter Critter

THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL is held every summer in Britt Park in Jacksonville, a small historical village located just outside of the city of Medford,Oregon. Fred-The-Litter-Critter is the mascot of the Storytelling Guild of Medford, Oregon. This Blog is a 50 year history of THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL managed by Pat Blair, Past Director and Advisor for the festival. Pat still does the art work for the festival t-shirts, programs, posters, etc.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

OUR FESTIVAL DIRECTORS - 1967 - 2011

1967, 1968, 1969, 1970,1971, 1972,1973: Jeannette Paulson

Jeannette with Lois Cousineau

1974 & 1975: Pat Blair & Marjorie Boyer (1975 only, no photo). Note:

Pat Blair has acted as Advisor for Festival Directors from 1976 to present dare (2016

1976 & 1977: Marsha McHugh

1978 & 1979, 1980: Cherie Hilts & Susie Wright

1981: Judy Ahmann & Shirley Huycke(no photo)

1982: Bette Haberlach & Jill Schroeder (no photo)

1983 & 1984: Marjorie Overland & Bunny Karchmer Brady

1985 & 1986: Tudy Schiveley & Barbara Brazier (no photo

1987 & 1988: Peggy Tomlins & Becky Versteeg

1989, 1990 & 1991: Carolyn Barrett, Cindy Hoffbuhr , & Emily Mostue

1992 & 1993: Andrea Mobley & Cathy Theen

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1994 & 1995: Mary Strahm & Bonnie Howe (no photo)

1996 & 1997: Linda Higgins, Bonnie Hall & Rhonda Loomer (1996 only, no photo)

1998 & 1999: Lynn Kellogg & Karin Dailey

2000 & 2001: Drama Foley & Janice Cox

2002 & 2003: Suzanne Yaru & Lori Dunlap

2004 & 2005: Judy Gambee, Cameron McCandless & Marilyn Gradwell

2006 & 2007: Jill Waldron, Patti Deihl & Christina Oden

2008 and 2009 : Annie Michels & Mary Patridge

2010 & 2011: Anne Billeter, Teresa Stumpenhaus, & Cindy Braden

2012 & 2013. Laura Horton & Maggie Donovan

2014 & 2015: Lona Dillard & Lara Knackstedt

2016: Holly Roberts & Teresa Stumpenhaus

A salute all the Past and Present Directors of The Children's Festival. It is easy to see that these women have been totally dedicated to the major leadership role and the rewarding task of providing something of quality FOR THE CHILDREN of our Rogue Valley!

STORYTELLING GUILD PRESIDENTS TO DATE (In alphabetical order)

Barrett, Carolyn
Brazier, Barbara
Buckley , Marjorie (Boyer)
Coleman, Verdell
Conner-Coash, Francine
Cox, Janice
Cushing, Judy
Dailey, Karin
Dillard, Lona
Donovan, Maggie ( 2 terms)
Dunlap. Lori
Foley, Darla
Foster, Karen
Gambee, Judy
Gradwell, Marilyn
Haberlach, Bette
Hall, Bonnie
Hess, Susan
Higgins, Linda
Hilts,Cherie
Hunt, Barbara (2 terms)
Kirkpatrick, Terrie
Lawler , Bunny
Matthews, Jackie
McHugh, Marsha
Michels, Annie
Mobley, Andrea
Moran, Teri
Mostue, Emily
Newland, Diane
Overland, Marjorie
Patridge, Mary
Paulson, Jeannette
Roberts, Holly
Roberts, Sue
Schiveley, Tudy
Schwada, Ruth
Strahm, Mary
Stumpenhouse, Teresa
Swartsley, Sharon
Theen, Cathy
Tomlins, Peggy
Versteeg,Becky
Wright, Susie
Yaru, Suzanne

THE QUEEN'S SHOES

Once upon a time. . ., before many of you were born . . ., a lonely little Queen lived high on a hill in Jacksonville. Her kingdom lay before her.
Each day she would wait and wait for someone to visit but they never came. The lonely little Queen would stare down and look only at her shoes. . . She was so sad.

The Queen wondered why not one person came. "My shoes", she thought, "are just too large for me to fill!"
The little Queen thought and thought about what she could do for the people who lived in her Kingdom. "I need to do something exciting!" She said.

Each day she would plan a lovely lunch with biscuits, jam and tea for her visitors to eat, but alas, everyday she ended up eating her jam and biscuits alone.

As the years began to pass and the Queen was not getting any younger, she thought to herself, "I MUST find a way to encourage my subjects to visit me!" So that very day she went to see the wise old woman, Mrs. Myra, who lived in the town library. Mrs. Myra was kind and good and knew so many things. The Queen was certain Mrs. Myra could help.
"My shoes are too big for me to fill and I want to have some fun!" she complained to the kindly old lady.

Mrs. Myra thought and thought and began to look around her little store of books for an answer. She looked in the corners and under her tiny desk. She moved about the books stacked high on her desk and those put away in their proper places too. She searched for a book about. . . red shoes .... blue shoes. . ., and as she looked she hummed a little tune. You see, Mrs. Myra was happiest when she was helping someone with a question! The happy little lady finally settled on a book about ...... BIG SHOES!

AHA!. . . Mrs. Myra said at last. "We are in luck and I have an idea!"
"It says here". . ., said Mrs Myra, ". . . that you need to do something important!" . . ."You will invite the CHILDREN! . . .They love biscuits and jam and always enjoy a party!" . . ."If you invite the children", exclaimed Mrs. Myra, "their parents will come too!"

That's just what the Queen did. She sent out invitations across the land to a party . She planned and worried, worried and planned until the big day came. She was ready! Of course she had biscuits and jam and also tea, . . .but what would she do if ALL the children came? . . .Would they want to just sit and have tea with the Queen? . . .Her head said no but her heart wanted them to come and to have a good time.

Quickly she RACED back to see Mrs. Myra. . . Mrs. Myra said, "I think
the children would love a story!" "Why not tell them a story or two?"
and the little Queen said she would. "That was such a good idea", thought the Queen, "I shall remember to do that always!"

As the Queen planned she realized that perhaps the parents would not like her stories. Once more she began to worry. . . Again she hurried to see the friendly, wise and wonderful Mrs. Myra. "I am so worried", said the Queen, "I just know my party will fail unless you help me find something for the parents to do too!"

"Not to worry," said Mrs. Myra, "You will ask each parent to help you." "You know, BUSY HANDS ARE HAPPY HANDS", exclaimed Mrs. Myra, (clapping her hands together). As the Queen hurried away
Mrs. Myra called after her. "Don't forget to find someone to help you set the table and clean up after the party!"

The little Queen had everything ready just in the nick of time! Children and their parents came from all across the Kingdom. The children played, ate biscuits with jam, listened to stories and watched a puppet performance. They even saw a play!

The parents were so busy they didn't have time for tea.
Knowing that the children might become restless after eating biscuits and jam with the Queen, the first parents to arrive had brought their own entertainment!

. . . The Queen, . . .(learning that she could be wise like Mrs. Myra) . . ., requested the parents to perform before the Queen and all of the children. . . Since this was the proper thing to do, the parents agreed.

The Queen's shoes were indeed very large and the little Queen thought to herself, "It is not easy to fill them. It will take a special person with just the right sized heart to fill these shoes!"

The Queen was pleased though as she thought about who could fill her shoes which were still too big for her feet.

In this Kingdom this Queen and the Children are so very lucky to have found a bond of women who have HEARTS of just the right SHAPE and FEET just the RIGHT SIZE!

She was so confident and knew that any one of them could fill her shoes.

The Queen was happy and her party such a success that she sent out a decree to all people in the Kingdom. It read:

DEAR ROYAL SUBJECTS

Any one of the loyal women of this Kingdom can be named Queen for one special party each summer. . . That queen will reign over the party which will be called from this day forward . . . THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL. Once it has been proven that the newly chosen queen can wear the shoes given to her, the new queen shall reign over the land for the next twelve months and become from this day forward Lady of the Court!

Signed, Her Royal Majesty
Queen of the Festival Kingdom

FROM THAT DAY UNTIL THIS DAY ERE HAS BEEN A NEW QUEEN EACH YEAR AND
AN ANNUAL CORONATION OF THE NEW QUEEN
HELD WITH THE PAST QUEENS ALL IN ATTENDANCE.

Story by Pat Blair

THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL and Friends of Fred The Litter Critter

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

OUR FESTIVAL DIRECTORS - 1967 - 2011

Children's Festival T-Shirt Designs, 1982 to 2014

1970 (Need photo please)