Village for Kids launches week of celebration in McKeesport

The annual event for children is a precursor for International Village.

Children enjoyed the sunny weather Monday at Renziehausen Park for the 16th annual Village for Kids celebration.

Village for Kids crownd its princess and prince on Monday. In front from left are princess Kayia Moats, prince George Nelson and state Sen. Nick Pisciottano’s son, Nico. In back from left are McKeesport City Administrator Thomas Maglicco, state Rep. Dan Goughnour, Pisciottano and Village for Kids Chair Alison Piccolino. Ladimir Garcia / Mon Valley Independent

Alison Piccolino, Village for Kids chair and director of external affairs for state Sen. Nick Pisciottano, called this year’s event a great success.

“It’s a beautiful day, the sun’s shining, and we have hundreds of kids here,” Piccolino said. “We have a wide variety of services, activities, local partners, neighbors, I think it’s about over 35 organizations involved today with a wide variety of information and activities.”

As attendees walked into the event, the first thing they noticed was a giant foam party. Piccolino said the foam was provided by the McKeesport Housing Authority.

Piccolino estimates more than 500 people attended this year’s Village for Kids, with dozens of organizations providing games and activities. There was free music and food as well.

“Everyone brought an activity, not only to give something fun for the kids, but also to help them learn about what they do every day,” Piccolino said. “So it’s really an overall partnership of having a fun day.”

Characters on hand included the Pirate Parrot, Stitch from “Lilo & Stitch” and AMO, the mascot of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team.

“If you walk around here today, you’re gonna see tons of smiles and laughter and old friends getting together and people making new friends,” Piccolino said.

Pisciottano gave major credit to Piccolino for helping put the event together, but Piccolino said it was a partnership between the senator’s office, the city and multiple other organizations.

The festival started 16 years ago when the city was celebrating its 50th anniversary of International Village. Piccolino said that Village for Kids has expanded over the years, and she’s happy to see that it still attracts families.

One of the main events of Village for Kids was the crowning of the event’s prince and princess. On the Band Shell stage, Pisciottano and Rep. Dan Goughnour called and crowned each of them.

This year’s princess of Village for Kids is 6-year-old Kayia Moats, who enjoys reading and her favorite school subject is math. The prince is 12-year-old George Nelson, who enjoys math and plays Roblox in his free time.

Moats and Nelson will receive free bicycles and helmets at today’s opening ceremony for International Village. They will also receive a VIP parking pass and admission to the festival.

McKeesport’s 65th International Village begins today with gates opening at 3 p.m. and the event lasting till 9 p.m. Admission is $2, and the festival continues through Thursday.

For more information, go to internationalvillage.info.