Rox in Sox 2016 Set for 7/30 in Portland

For the fourth year in a row, Rox in Sox, will host a free festival of children's music and reading, on Saturday, July 30, 10 am to 3 pm. Headlining this year's festival will be OzoKidz, the percussive, world-beat family band of Ozomatli, who will be in town for a show for grown-ups at the Aladdin the evening prior, July 29th. The Portland shows are part of Ozomatli's national concert tour.

For the second year, the festival takes place at King School Park at 4906 NE 6th Street (off Alberta and MLK) in Portland. Other performers on the main stage will include Aaron Nigel Smith and his 1 World Chorus, plus popular songsters Mo Phillips and Mr. Ben. The lineup of live music, author readings (presented by Green Bean Books) and other festivities is growing now at www.roxinsox.org.

Admission to Rox in Sox is free with a donation of new shoes, socks or books for kids in need. Local and touring family music artists, plus several authors will join the day of fun in the park. Various community partners will offer free hands-on crafts and activities for kids.

Rox in Sox regularly attracts thousands of kids and their grownups to enjoy a summer day filled with music and reading fun. Over thepast three years, festival volunteers in Portland and Las Vegas have collected 3,205 pairs of socks, 1,519 books and 220 pairs of shoes for children who need them in Portland, Kenya & Jamaica. Recipients include clients of Salem Hospital NICU, The Oregon Children's Book Bank, Cura Rotary Home & School in Kenya, Haile Selassie High School in Jamaica and the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas.

Supported by the Oregon Community Foundation and the Mayor's Office of Youth Violence Prevention, and presented by 1World Chorus, Rox in Sox will offer kids and parents a day of family-friendly entertainment, activities and summery refreshments. PDX Parentis the parenting media sponsor of this year's festival. Other sponsors include: the Portland Police Bureau, Portland Parks & Recreation, Rotary International, Keen Footwear, Embassy Suites, and 97.1 Charlie FM radio.

Portland retailer Green Bean Books will curate and present children's book authors and illustrators reading and talking with kids about their works. The lineup and schedule will be announced soon.

Rox in Sox founder Aaron Nigel Smith is a musician and educator whom KGW TV calls "a Portland treasure." Smith's simple mission is to inspire families to sing, dance and play together. He's been featured on PBS-TV's "Between the Lions," and has won numerous awards and tours nationally. His 1 World Chorus blends the voices of hundreds of young singers from Portland, New York, Los Angeles, Kenya and Jamaica. "We're thrilled to present this free all-day and all-ages festival at a Portland park again this year. It always rocks," he says.

There are still a few spaces for Rox in Sox vendors and sponsors. The complete Portland event lineup and more information about the festival is available at www.roxinsox.org.

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