Avery Swasey, of Peterborough, far left, and Jo Fletcher, far right , of Greenfield, showi their friends Ash Kulp, (left) and Elizabeth Strack around the Children and the Arts festival Saturday. All four are students at Simmons College.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Putnam Park seen from the Grove Street Bridge.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

A group from Lamy’s Black Belt Academy demonstrates their skills at Putnam Park.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Susie Spikol of the Harris Center for Conservation Education talks to young visitors about wild birds.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Big puppets “Jane Goodall” and “Nelson Mandela” join the parade.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Youngsters dig for worms  in the Cornucopia Project’s “garden.” STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Clarisse Bionelli, 6, poses at Lionheart Academy’s “Wings” display.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

 The “Dalai Lama” and “Malala” bring up the rear of the Children and the Arts Parade.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Students from Lionheart Classical Academy wave to the crowd. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Bennington’s Pierce School with their “Bird of Many Feathers.”  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The Well School kindergarten passes Memorial Gates.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The Well School displays tropical birds.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Preschool “bears” from The Well School. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Dublin Consolidated School flies its “Big Raven.” STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Students from Antrim Elementary School with their “Big Eagle.”  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The group from Peterborough Elementary School marches down Grove Street.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

ConVal sophomores, raising money for the Class of 2026, from left, (front) Clara Wilsher, Nora Eliopolous, Mackenzie Fry, Lucas Baker, Brayden Boice, (back) Gretchen Lima and Kelli Garthe.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The crowd was entranced by Vinny the Bubble Guy. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Vinny the Bubble Guy entertains the crowd before the start of the parade.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The ConVal High School Marching Band leads the parade. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Young fans dance to Moonbellies, a band from the Seacoast.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The Peterborough Elementary School section of Children in the Arts.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Students from Flying Gravity Circus unicycle past the Peterborough Town House. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Teachers, students and parents from Greenfield Elementary School. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Emma Hamlin, left, and Liz McSweeney of High Mowing School. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS