ALDERSON W.Va. (WVDN) – Alderson Main Street’s second annual Lion Days is set for this April. Lion Days celebrates the captivating story of French, a lion cub adopted by a woman in Alderson in the 1890s that became the first African lion at the then-new National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and eventually joined the Barnum and Bailey Circus. All events during Lion Days are free, and the first event is dedicated to kids!
On Tuesday, April 15 at 2 p.m., students in grades K-12 are invited to come to the new Community Center (the cafeteria building at the former elementary school) at 277 Elmwood Avenue in Alderson, WV, and paint their very own mural of French! All art materials will be provided.
Cheryl Mansley will kick off the event by telling the story of French, and then each child will pick a table with a long piece of mural paper on it, choose their first paint color, and start painting.
“It’s not very often that kids get the opportunity to make giant art,” says Mansley. “It’s fun to watch them choose their paint colors and slowly create their vision of French. Last year, as they painted, even though it was a big room filled with many little artists at work, it was so peaceful and quiet that you could have heard a pin drop!”
All families interested in signing up for this art extravaganza must contact Cheryl Mansley at cherylmansley@gmail.com or 304-702-0554. All children must be signed up ahead of time.
