Festival to support Michelle Obama initiative to reduce childhood obesity

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has joined mayors across the country in declaring Saturday as National Kids to Parks Day.

To celebrate the second annual event, children ages 12 and younger are invited to experience Living Traditions Kids and explore various cultures through outdoor play and traditional arts and crafts from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Living Traditions Kids is part of the Living Traditions Festival scheduled for this weekend at Washington Square, 451 S. State. Activities at the festival are are colorful, educational and result in handmade crafts that children can take home, organizers said.

National Kids to Parks day is part of first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move Outside" initiative to reduce childhood obesity.

"Salt Lake City is host to 126 parks, 960 acres of open space and 58 playgrounds — all of which provide excellent spaces for outdoor play," Becker said. "I encourage all residents to use National Kids to Parks Day as an opportunity to develop and model healthy and active lifestyles for our children, helping to reduce childhood obesity and encouraging a love for the outdoors."

For more informtation about Living Traditions Kids, visit www.livingtraditionsfestival.com/kids.

— Jared Page