'Idol' finalist rocks Kidz Fest
Covais took the indoor stage after a meet-and-greet session for fans.
By SARAH POULTON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With professional cyclist Jeff Lenosky, American Idol finalist Kevin Covais and the Hall of Knowledge, there was something for everyone at Youngstown's first Kidz Fest, at the Chevrolet Centre.
Everyone from Scooby Doo to Seven Seventeen Credit Union's Dollar Dog were there Sunday greeting the children and their parents as they spent a fun-filled day of learning and imagining.
Bridget Phillips, sales coordinator for Clear Channel, said Clear Channel and Akron Children's Hospital sponsored the event. She said they were expecting between 3,000 and 9,000 people.
Phillips said the event was held both inside and outside because the vinyl-made inflatables would melt in the sun. She added that since it was a beautiful day, the outside activities, such as the cycling display, Safety Town and the Stat MedEvac helicopter, would be popular as well.
"We wanted to offer a climate-controlled environment for the inflatables, as well as a nice outside environment for the kids," Phillips said. "You can't control the weather."
Fest Coordinator Cindy Falotico said the event was held in previous years, but this was the first time it has visited Youngstown. It has been in Akron the past two years and also in New Castle, Pa., a few years back, she added.
WKBN-TV First News was doing an interactive virtual newsroom for the children. WKBN had the children do a real-life weather broadcast and sent them home with a DVD to remember their broadcast debut.
What participants said
Griffin Marr, 10, from Poland said Kidz Fest was great, not only for the city but because it also gives people something different to do. He said that he was having a great time and was definitely coming back nest year.
Griffin said that after his stint with WKBN, he's going to grow up to be a weather man. Although that was something exciting for him, he said that he had a hard time picking his favorite part of the event.
"My favorite part was hmm, let me think... the boxing," Marr said. "I had fun on the bouncy thing, too."
Brittany Palowitz, 9, from McDonald also had fun pretending to be a broadcaster, but she was too busy enjoying everything else at Kidz Fest to care about her DVD.
"I like going on the bouncy thing and eating dippin' dots," Brittany said. "Now, I want to make my own teddy bear."
Lanosky said that he participated the past two years during the event in Akron showing off his cycling skills. Akron's Kidz Fest was Saturday, and he said that even in the sloppy, rainy mess, the crowd was great.
"I do about 60 demos a year," Lanosky said. It's a good opportunity to get people involved in cycling. I want to get the kids excited to go out and ride."
Covais took the indoor stage after a meet-and-greet session for fans of all ages. He said he was really intrigued by this opportunity to travel and hang out with the fans.
"I'm extremely excited to be here," Covais said. "It's all about the kids for me."
Array of songs
Covais sang an array of songs including "One Last Cry" by Brian McKnight, "Imagine" by John Lennon, and an a cappella version of "When I Fall in Love." Covais said that though he was the second person voted off American Idol, the window of opportunity had been opened for him, and that is something that can never be taken away.
"This experience has been amazing for me," he added. "Not only do you get the stage experience, but you make a lot of friends and get to be a role model. A year ago, I would've never imagined this."
Hirschmann Construction Services in Hermitage, Pa., had a booth in the Hall of Knowledge. James Chaney, sales manager, said their model of a house showed children each phase of building a house so the children could see each component.
"A lot of kids are curious," Chaney said. "We're trying to answer their questions on how houses are built."
Additional activities included health and fitness demonstrations, Nightmare II Monster Truck and a make-it-and-take it crafts area. The event started at 10 a.m. and finished at 6 p.m.
spoulton@vindy.com