7th CHILDREN'S FAIR HAS CONCLUDED
FAIR ATTRACTED A RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS
CHILDREN AND PARENTS THRILLED WITH CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION
This past weekend, the 7th Children's Fair took place after a two-year hiatus, once again held at Skenderija under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Sport KS. The fair was inaugurated by the ambassador of the fair, Amel Tuka, and the Minister of Culture and Sport KS, Samir Avdić, accompanied by the director of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Blood Transfusion Institute, Prim. Dr. Aida Đozo, and the fair's director, Maja Graholski.
We have once again pushed boundaries and demonstrated why the Children's Fair is the largest and most important festival for children and families in BiH. This would not have been possible without the sponsors, partners, and friends of the fair, as well as the educators, teachers, and professors who worked diligently with the little ones to prepare them for the festival, and the parents who brought their children to the fair. Together, we spent two unforgettable days at Skenderija and made childhood memories unforgettable for the youngest," said Maja Graholski, the fair's director.
"Basics School has been an integral part of the Children's Fair since its inception in Sarajevo, both through the festival program and the exhibition segment. I am proud that this year we took over the production of the fair and became co-organizers, introducing many innovations in the visualization and organization of the fair that were needed after a two-year hiatus. Taking on the production and organization of the entire festival was a new challenge for us, which we successfully overcame. I want to thank the entire Basics School team who worked on the organization, as well as the founder and director of the fair, Maja Graholski, who placed her trust in us. Basics School has been producing the most significant projects for children in BiH for ten years, so taking over the production of the Children's Fair was a logical and spontaneous step. I am proud that we set new records in attendance and the number of participants in the festival program, making it the best festival for children and families in BiH," said Đorđe Jovančić, the director of Basics School and producer of the Children's Fair.
The record-breaking attendance at the fair has once again demonstrated the significant demand for quality content for children and the strong support from parents for the Children’s Fair. Organizers justified the trust placed in them and turned a weekend of children's imagination into reality.
With interactions with over 20 different mascots, a sports arena organized by Sportland that delighted both children and parents, as well as activities like tastings, face painting, ice skating, skiing school by OC Jahorina, clown performances, prize-winning, various games, competitions, and a large entertainment park, the fair provided a multitude of engaging activities for all ages.
This year, over a thousand children performed at the fair. Basics School gifted everyone with the fair’s anthem "Kao ti ja" (Like You and Me) in celebration of its tenth anniversary, which thrilled everyone. The fair also featured performances from 16 kindergartens of JU Djeca Sarajeva, the fantastic Superar in BiH with a choir and violin orchestra, KUD Bulbul, the Spin Dance Club with acrobatic rock & roll, the Randori Karate Club, and the Sarajevo Taekwondo Club with their champions, Swan Modeling School by Džejla Glavović, and many others.
Maja Graholski, the fair's director, said she was proud of the organizational team for achieving so much in a short time and proving that the two-year break due to the pandemic had not affected the quality of the content. Despite the challenging times, festival participants and exhibitors made an unprecedented effort to ensure everything was perfect, and the fair also collected 45 units of blood.
"I admit I was astonished by the fair's attendance, even though this is the 25th Children's Fair I've worked on, as well as by the huge amount of positive feedback we received from visitors, who approached us to thank and congratulate us and who have been reaching out to us all day on social media. We are currently reflecting on the positive outcomes and becoming aware of how many good things we have organized for the children with our partners and the responsibility that comes with it. We are seriously considering holding the Children's Fair in several other cities in BiH in 2023 and have already started discussions with partners and exhibitors. Seriousness, organization, and fulfilling agreements, as well as professionalism, are the hallmarks of our team. But it wasn’t easy to return and organize everything like this after a two-year hiatus," said Graholski.
"I always emphasize how important it is for us to make childhood memories unforgettable and joyful. And the fair’s anthem says: 'Children are important for this country to be happy and strong.' Children are the future of every society and deserve to grow up in a healthy, happy, and stimulating environment. It is up to us to make that possible. In this sense, the content at the fair encourages children to tell stories about growing up, to showcase themselves, to exercise, learn, build self-confidence, and have fun. Our mission is to help create an environment in which every child deserves to grow and develop," she added.
With the support of partners, we delighted the youngest and their parents with a year’s supply of Dukat chocolate milk – 365 liters, one family enjoyed a stay at the Monti Hotel on Igman, and one mom received a stroller, bag, and newborn products.
The most visited stand was the MUP KS, where children had the opportunity to photograph themselves in a police car and on a motorcycle, interact with special forces, and try on their equipment. One of the children’s favorite mascots was Čistunko KJPK Rad, and the Public Fire Brigade presented their firefighting equipment and vehicle. Throughout the weekend, various entertainment options were available at over 40 exhibitor stands, with the largest crowds at the dm, Becutan, Dukat, and Mlinar stands. Parents flocked to buy products at fair prices at the Violet stand, and organic and sugar-free products from Organix were a major discovery, along with 50% discounts on Mepal and Twistshake products.
The fair was also attended by many public figures with their little ones.
Thank you to all the media who covered the event, as well as the fair’s partners and everyone who contributed to its realization. See you next year.
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