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Children danced, won prizes and toys, and interacted with funny characters at the Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, during an annual celebration that is just for kids.
Despite the low temperatures and gloomy weather, families flocked to Old Courthouse Square to join the festival organized by local Spanish radio station La Maquina Musical, 105.7 FM.
Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl’s younger members cheer on their other members during the Third Annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
In its third edition, the festival showcased activities that included martial arts and Ballet Folklórico performances, a toy giveaway and a “crazy hair” contest.
Girls wearing creations made with their own hair or wearing wigs took the stage at around 1:30 p.m. to compete for the “craziest” hairdo. Stacy Castañon, a 3-year-old from Santa Rosa, won first place with a version of Princess Poppy from the 2016 movie “Trolls.”
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Stacy Castañon, a 3-year-old from Santa Rosa, won first place in the Crazy Hair Contest at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Kiara Perez Gaspar, an 8-year-old from Santa Rosa, won second place in the Crazy Hair Contest at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Zahary Amador, an 8-year-old from Ukiah, won third place in the Crazy Hair Contest at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Stacy Castañon, a 3-year-old from Santa Rosa, won first place in the Crazy Hair Contest at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Others, like Nayeli Maldonado, 39, from Santa Rosa, were expecting to have some luck while waiting at the back of a long line to see if their children would get some free toys.
“We were late,” she said. “But I’m standing in line anyway because my kids heard on the radio that they were giving away toys and wanted to come.”
Past the line for toys, some families were playing soccer on the grass in the middle of the plaza, while others were having snacks from food trucks such as churros, popcorn and tacos.
Maria, Erick, and Mariel Bremauntz all sit to watch Felix Javier Mendoza Olvera, Javiersito, perform his clown set during the Third Annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
Javier Beltran gets his hand stamped as he heads out with his toys during the Third Annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
There were about 30 volunteers for the event, according to organizers. The volunteers could be seen coming and going across the plaza, setting up the performances and guiding children to the contests.
Fabian Villanueva, a festival organizer and host, said he was pleased with the turnout. He was also excited about the fact he started as a volunteer for the Día del Niño Festival in its first edition and was now hosting it.
“I feel proud and happy,” he said.
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Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl performs traditional Mexican dance during the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl performs traditional Mexican dance at the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Felix Javier Mendoza Olvera, or Javiersito the Clown, checks with the audience to see which of the kids won the contest during the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Miley Ortiz restocks one of the toys that were given away during the third annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Jesus Martinez Diaz plays with various toys at the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Claudia Ramirez applies face paint to the kids attending the third annual Dia del Nino Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Victor Zadorov Carrillo Ibarra speaks during the third annual Día del Niño Festival at Santa Rosa about the various resources at the Mexican Consulate on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Amy Beltran (middle) and Lesly Salgado (right) get their hands stamped as they head out with their toys during the third annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl performs traditional Mexican dance during the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl performs traditional Mexican dance during the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Closer to the stage, students from the Petaluma-based taekwondo dojang Him Do Kwan broke wooden slats and performed other exercises on the esplanade.
Helder Rodriguez, a taekwondo teacher from Him Do Kwan, said it is important to bring sports demonstrations to children’s festivals to show that physical activity can also be fun and rewarding. He said he likes to see his students show their accomplishments in public.
“Children can set goals and accomplish what they want,” he said. “A Korean martial art, like taekwondo, teaches them to follow rules, to respect others.”
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Students from the taekwondo dojang Him Do Kwan perform at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Max Gomez, a 12-year-old from Santa Rosa, won a bicycle at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Children interact with a gorilla character at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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A child waits for her turn at the face painting booth at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Children pose with Osito Bimbo, the iconic mascot for Mexico’s largest bakery, during the Día del Niño Festival at Old Courthouse Square on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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The organizer and host, Fabian Villanueva, observes performers at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Ballet Folklorico Paquiyollotzin of Petaluma performs at Día del Niño Festival held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa, on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Families gather at Día del Niño Festival held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa, on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Kids from the taekwondo dojang Him Do Kwan do warmup exercises with their teacher at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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Students from the taekwondo dojang Him Do Kwan perform at the Día del Niño Festival, held at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Raquel Issenberg/La Prensa Sonoma)
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The vendor and information booths placed around the plaza captured attendees’ attention. The most popular booths were for face painting, popcorn and other sweets, and the Mexican Consulate.
The local springtime festival was planned to run from noon to 7 p.m. and concluded with more raffles and a norteño music band.
Jasmine Hernandez sits at a face painting station during the Third Annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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A person dressed as a robot dances with the kids as Felix Javier Mendoza Olvera, known as Javiersito the Clown, performs his set at the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Felix Javier Mendoza Olvera, or Javiersito the Clown, checks with the audience to see which of the kids won a contest during the third annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Camilla Danae Rios Hernandez looks around the California Highway Patrol’s booth for her free toy during the third annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl performs traditional Mexican dance at the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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John Carlos Aldrante makes a bee at a booth at the Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Miley Ortiz restocks one of the toys that were given away during the third annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcóyotl performs traditional Mexican dance during the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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A person dressed as a robot dances with the kids as Felix Javier Mendoza Olvera, known as Javiersito the Clown, performs his set at the third annual Día del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
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Día del Niño is celebrated on April 30 in Mexico, while other Latin American countries observe it on different dates.
Alexis Leyva (left), Elymus Leyva (middle) and Lonicera Leyva (right) learn about pollination at a booth for the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County at the Third Annual Dia del Niño Festival in Santa Rosa on April 26, 2026. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
