AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S MUSICIAN TO HEADLINE SUNNYVALE’S ANNUAL ‘HANDS ON THE ARTS’ FESTIVAL

SUNNYVALE, CA – Children will have an opportunity to sing along with award-winning national recording artist Tim Cain and work with dozens of local professional artists at Sunnyvale’s 21st annual Hands on the Arts festival, Saturday, May 20.

The nationally-recognized Hands on the Arts festival is a favorite event with both kids and artists. The event, which runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive. is expected to draw over 1,000 children and their families. Hundreds of volunteers, including teens who participated when they were younger, come back each year to make the event a success.

This year, 36 professional artists will lead workshops for the children. With so many workshops from which to choose, children can keep busy all day and leave with armloads of projects. Most workshops allow a child to create an art project to take home in about 15 minutes. Performing arts workshops teach a song or dance to be presented in impromptu performances throughout the day.

Cain, one of the co-founders of the 1960s rock group The Sons of Champlin, began performing children’s music in the 1990s and now presents about 300 concerts a year. He has produced five albums for children and received national awards and honors for his work. Cain, who is paralyzed from the waist down from childhood polio, uses crutches onstage and presents himself as “just a regular person whose legs don’t work.” Cain’s folk rock/pop sound, warm personality and inspiring story help him make an instant connection with young audiences.