Kids Fest in Storm Lake this weekend will include a magic show.
Mikayla Oz, one of the state’s most sought after performers, will offer two 30-minute shows during the festival this Sunday, June 9th in Chautauqua Park, each with different tricks. Showtimes are 12:30 and 2 p.m. in the stage area in front of the shelter house. Between shows, young performers from the Drishti School of Dance will perform routines showcasing a variety of different dance styles.
Mikayla, the “Millennial Magician,” is an Iowa native who began studying magic at age 4 after seeing a magic show at a local library. She began to check out books and teach herself the tricks they showed, sparking a lifelong interest in performing magic.
“I would create tickets to my magic show on scraps of paper that I would find around the house and invite all of my neighbors to come see my magic show,” she remembers. “I ended up getting my first monthly gig performing at the McDonald’s play area by the age of 8. Compensation for these gigs included a free Kids Meal and a $25 gift card! As I got older, I continued to perform in every place I could, including the Bill Riley Talent Show at the Iowa State Fair.”
As word of the fun, energetic shows got out, Mikayla was soon in demand for county fairs and festivals. In recent years, she has performed from coast to coast, and has been a featured performer in theme parks from Iowa’s Adventureland to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California. Her magic has been shared in media including USA Today, Huffington Post, Travel Channel, and The Penn & Teller Show.
“Magic gave me the ability to have a unique skill set and be able to offer and share that with others,” says Mikayla, who has gone on to found The Magician School, where she teaches magic during after-school programs in many central Iowa schools. “I feel incredibly grateful to potentially start another young person down this path that truly changed my life and opened so many doors for me.”
In case of bad weather, the magic performances will be held inside the shelter.
Like all of the features of Kids’ Fest, the magic shows are offered free of charge, provided by the City of Storm Lake and King’s Pointe Resort.
Kids’ Fest takes place from noon-3 p.m. It offers lots of good, family fun like a foam party, dunk tank, duck pond, chalk art competition, bouncy pony races, and a chance to explore a fire truck, police car, snowplow and other big equipment up close. The Storm Lake Police YumVee will be there with treats, and Community Education and the BVU football team will be on hand with sports games. There will be lots of stations with games, crafts and adventure aplenty. Children will be able to plant a flower with the library staff, craft a bracelet with an environmental message with the building department, and tour a fire safety education house with the firefighters – plus much more! Families can also pick up a wristband at the event only, for free admission to kids 11 and younger for the King’s Pointe waterpark after their Kids’ Fest visit.
