WILLEMSTAD – The seventh edition of the Wintertuin Curaçao Kids Festival drew a sold-out crowd of around 1,000 visitors on Saturday at Het Curaçaosch Museum. This year’s theme, Brio—meaning brilliance and courage—set the tone for a day filled with creativity, performance, and storytelling.
The entire museum grounds were transformed into a playground of imagination, featuring more than 25 performances and activities for children ages 0 to 15. One of the highlights was the construction of “Brianta,” a nearly six-meter-tall 3D dress that symbolized the power of stories. Children and parents worked together to decorate the vibrant structure.
Acrobatics, Art, and Photography
Acrobatic rings and fabrics suspended from the trees proved to be a major attraction. Under the guidance of local acrobatics club Xtasee 2.0, children fearlessly swung, balanced, and created shapes with their bodies. At the canvas art workshop, kids painted works they could proudly take home. Meanwhile, photography experts Giscard Lemarque and Eliezer Domitilia taught children how to capture emotions and experiment with perspective using their mobile phones.
Poetry Comes Alive
The Poetry Jukebox returned as a festival favorite. Young poets, who had previously taken part in a workshop series, performed original poems based on themes chosen by audience members. The interactive setup gave each child a unique and personal poetry experience.
Book Launch and Storytelling
On the main stage, author Elvira Bonafacio presented her debut story collection Yen’i Brio / Met Pit. Later in the day, she shared both Papiamentu and Dutch-language stories with smaller groups in a more intimate setting.
Inclusive Celebration
The festival welcomed a diverse audience, including both paying guests and children from social programs who might not otherwise have had the chance to attend. Parents praised the festival’s spacious layout and child-focused programming.
The day closed with a lively parade led by brass band Still Building Music, bringing the festival to an energetic finale. Organizers announced that the adult edition of the Wintertuin Festival will take place this coming Saturday at Landhuis Vredenberg, running from 6:00 p.m. until midnight.
