The 15th annual All Kids Fair will return to the Hilton Long Island/Huntington, offering classes, activities and attractions for children and families.
This year’s fair will be held Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Huntington Hilton, formerly known as the Hilton Long Island/Huntington, at 598 Broadhollow Road (Route 110) in Melville. The children’s expo features what organizers call “25,000 square feet of fun,” according to Barbara Kaplan, director of the expo.
Since 2011 the All Kids Fair has provided families with a day each April to spend time together while learning about Long Island-based companies that offer services and products for children.
This year’s event will feature returning favorites and new classes, including martial arts mini lessons, a fencing demonstration, Padawan Training Institute (“use the force and wield a lightsaber”), field day games and a rock band demonstration.
“My girls and their friend had such an amazing time today. I took a ton of pictures. We can’t wait for next year’s event,” said repeat attendee Cindy Frankel of Hicksville.
Special guests scheduled to attend include Miss Long Island 2026 Geanna Koulouris, Miss Long Island Teen 2026 Shyla Silva and Ms. New York Senior America 2025 Tina Hanley.
In addition to more than 80 exhibitors, activities and attractions will include face painting, balloon twisting, soft play for children ages 0-5, and a petting zoo with sheep, goats, chickens and bunnies from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting.
At “Be a Biker for a Day,” children can touch, sit on and take photos with motorcycles. They can also receive temporary biker tattoos and meet members of the nonprofit Bikers Against Child Abuse.
Children will also have the opportunity to pose with Stormtroopers from the “Star Wars” films, courtesy of the 501st Legion, an organization whose mission is “bad guys who do good” while raising money for nonprofit causes.
Moronke Oshin-Martin of TGA of Northern Nassau County shared her experience at last year’s event.
“The event was full of energy; the kids were excited, parents were enthusiastic, and everything was so well organized,” Oshin-Martin said. “It’s the place to be for vendors.”
The fair offers educational and recreational activities for toddlers through high school students, including children with special needs or who are gifted. Information will be available about schools, camps, after-school programs, birthday party ideas and college planning.
A charity drive will also be held to benefit Agape Meals for Kids, a local 501(c)(3) organization that provides weekend meals to children experiencing food insecurity on Long Island. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable, easy-to-prepare, single-serve food items. Those who donate food or money will receive raffle tickets for prizes.
Sponsors for this year’s All Kids Fair include WildPlay, Optum, Rolling Raoke, Meaningful Metrics, Schneps Long Island, Your Local Kids Source, The Garden City News, Herald Community Newspapers and 106.1 BLI.
Advance tickets are $5 for children ages 2 and older and adults. Tickets purchased at the door are $10 for children ages 2 and older and $5 for adults. Children ages 1 and younger are admitted free.
Tickets and information are available at AllKidsFair.com.
The All Kids Fair is an annual event organized by Specialty Connections. The fair showcases services including schools, after-school activities, camps, day care programs, kid-friendly products, and health and wellness services.
For more information about Specialty Connections events, visit SpecialtyConnections.com. Additional information about the All Kids Fair is available at AllKidsFair.com.
Information about the Over 50 Fair, another event produced by Specialty Connections, can be found at Over50Fair.com. For more information, contact Barbara Kaplan at 516-621-1446.
