Despite a slow, rainy start, KidsFest 2025 roared to life with sunshine, laughter, and a great turnout in the heart of downtown Zephyrhills. Held on the second official day of summer, the festival drew families from across the area for a day of fun, free activities, and community connection.
“This is not a vendor-focused event,” said Main Street Zephyrhills Director Antwon Gildon. “We’re trying to show the community that they can come down and just enjoy themselves.”
And enjoy they did. From bounce houses and face painting to the crowd-favorite “bubble lady” and repeat performances from local magicians, KidsFest 2025 offered something for everyone.
Attendees lined up to experience balloon twisting, interactive shows, a bike showcase, and the always popular “Touch a Truck” exhibit, which included participation from local police, fire, and sheriff departments.
While weather threatened to dampen the event, the streets were filled with kids laughing, music playing, and neighbors connecting. Gildon emphasized that the event was built around doing, not buying.
“What we did is we put a lot of things together that were just, like—you could come down here and do things,” he said. “Once you buy something, that’s it. But when you come down here and do something, like watch the bubble lady or a magician, it keeps you coming back.”
The event also highlighted the importance of local partnerships. Cheerleaders performed, food trucks served up crowd-pleasing eats, and organizations provided information—not sales pitches.
“An event like this can’t happen without community partnerships,” Gildon said. “Our board has done a great job connecting with different partners. Having city vehicles, police, fire, and local merchants involved really makes a difference. Even something like clearing the streets takes coordination.”
Looking ahead, Gildon hinted at big plans for the future.
“We’re really gearing up to make sure Halloween and Christmas are phenomenal this year. Veterans Day too,” he said. “SummerFest is just a few weeks away, and we’re already looking ahead to make sure 2026 is even better than this year.”
With the success of KidsFest 2025 in the books, one thing is clear: the community spirit is alive and well—and just getting started.