Memorial Day family getaway? Check out Kansas City’s Jiggle Jam

In just two years, Jiggle Jam Family Music Festival has become the largest family music festival in the Midwest, has received applause from publications throughout the nation and has become the destination for family fun over Memorial Day weekend.

Organizers promise that this rapidly growing family festival will continue to rock Kansas City in 2010.

The third annual Jiggle Jam Family Music Fest giggles, wiggles and jiggles into downtown Kansas City, Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30. Jiggle Jam has one overall goal: to bring several generations of families together for a good time.

The festival comes to life at Hallmark Cards’ Crown Center Square with youth-oriented performances on three stages by national and local bands such as:

• Ralph’s World – Previously featured on Disney and Noggin, Grammy nominated Ralph’s World is an indie rocker and songwriter.
• Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience – Zydeco’s most soulful vocalists and fieriest accordionists that appears prominently on Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” soundtrack.
• Choo Choo Soul – Made famous by Disney, vocalist Genevieve Goings is a train conductor with a penchant for singing kid-oriented, R&B/hip-hop-tinged songs.
• Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – This is hip hop for kids that sounds all grown up.
• The Zeros – Kansas City-based 80s tribute band and one of the best 80s tribute bands in the Midwest.
• Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove – A KC kiddie favorite, Jim Cosgrove is a singer/ songwriter who got his name for his award-winning CD, Stinky Feet.

Jiggle Jam also features educational music, dance, crafts, train rides, musical chairs and exercise workshops. Wonderscope and the American Heart Association will present special activities, and the grounds of Crown Center Square will be set up with bubble tents and bouncy toys.

“We’re proud to present a festival where kids and tweens can have fun with all of the activities designed just for them, but with a kid-friendly rock “edge” so grownups have a good time as well,” said Jiggle Jam president Jim Cosgrove. “Ages 1-99 will discover something fun to do, and parents are finding the festival is an affordable vacation destination.”

• Dates: Memorial Day Weekend, May 29 & 30, 2010
• Website: www.KCJiggleJam.com
• Admission: $10 at the gate (age 2 and up), $8 in advance online, $15 Weekend Pass in advance online. Under 2 is free.
• Location: Crown Center Square, 25th & Grand Street, Kansas City, MO
• Hotels (includes 2 tickets for each night’s stay): Westin Crown Center, $99/night (plus tax), Hyatt Regency Crown Center, $99/night (plus tax)