Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru ( NJC)
Mangaluru, May 11: In a vibrant initiative dedicated to children, creativity, and family entertainment, Spark Tree is all set to organise Kidfest 2026, a grand two-day children’s festival on May 16 and 17 at the scenic Palemar Convention Centre. The festival is being spearheaded by Soujanya Hegde and Preetham Ponnappa under the banner of Spark Tree.
Having successfully conducted several training programmes and child-focused activities over the years, the organisers have envisioned Kidfest 2026 as a large-scale platform exclusively aimed at celebrating childhood, creativity, learning, healthy living, and joyful family bonding.
Popular screen personality and passionate children’s development advocate Soujanya Hegde, along with the Spark Tree team, is taking this vision forward through a festival designed to provide meaningful, engaging, and memorable experiences for children and parents alike.
One of the major attractions of the festival is the venue itself — the spacious and beautifully designed Palemar Convention Centre at Maryhill, which offers a refreshing atmosphere for families to explore, participate, and enjoy a variety of activities.
Kidfest 2026 will feature an exciting line-up of competitions and entertainment programmes for children across different age groups. Activities will include crawling competitions for toddlers, quiz competitions, tricycle contests, twin shows, Prince and Princess Contests, robotics, drawing competitions, and several other fun-filled interactive events.
The organisers have announced that entry to the festival will be completely free, allowing families from all walks of life to experience the celebrations. Visitors can enjoy free play zones, bounce castles, interactive play stations, experience centres, fun activity corners, family-friendly flea markets and stalls, along with non-stop entertainment programmes throughout the event.
Adding further significance to the celebration, the organisers will also host the Little Spark Awards, a special segment recognising and honouring talented young achievers from different fields.
Another unique highlight of the festival will be a special stargazing session planned during the evening hours, giving children an opportunity to explore the beauty and wonders of the night sky and create unforgettable memories.
The biggest attraction of Kidfest 2026 is expected to be the Kids Marathon, a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated entirely to children. The marathon will feature categories including 1.5-kilometre and 2.5-kilometre runs, where children and parents can participate together by running, jogging, or walking.
Organisers clarified that the marathon is not designed as a competitive race, but rather as a celebration of participation, fitness, and healthy living. Through this initiative, children are encouraged to embrace an active lifestyle and contribute towards building a greener, healthier, and fitter tomorrow.
With enthusiastic participation anticipated from across the region, Kidfest 2026 is expected to attract a massive footfall over the two-day celebration and promises to emerge as one of Mangaluru’s biggest and most exciting family festivals dedicated to children.
For more details, organisers can be contacted at +91 6361579485.