Creativity, cans and charity at South Coast Plaza event

The Festival of Children Foundation will bring international talent to its annual event at South Coast Plaza for the first time in its 12-year history.

Team Adrenaline, a group of young gymnasts from Melbourne, Australia, will perform for shoppers at Jewel Court at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28 — its first performance in the United States.

The foundation hosts free activities such as arts and crafts, and singing and dance performances for the community every weekend Sept. 7 through Sept. 29 during the Festival of Children at South Coast Plaza.

The foundation is a nonprofit that supports more than 500 children’s charities nationwide by hosting events and workshops for the organizations, providing them a chance to collaborate and recruit potential volunteers in the community, said spokeswoman Beverly Morgan.

“Our mission is to improve the lives of children by strengthening the charities that support them,” she said. “We want to shine a spotlight on their work.”

Throughout the month, 75 charities in Southern California will have tables at South Coast Plaza to engage community members with arts and crafts activities and family-friendly performances.

One of the most well known aspects of the festival for the past six years has been Canstruction OC. Volunteers create structures out of canned food inside South Coast Plaza the weekend before the event begins. At the end of the month, the structures are disassembled and the canned food items are delivered to the Orange County Food Bank. About 125 tons of food have been donated for the event, Morgan said.

The Costa Mesa based organization was founded in 2002 by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, a business professional and children’s advocate who saw an opportunity to bring charities together, according to the Festival of Children Foundation website.

For more information on the event and a description of the activities and performances, visit festivalofchildren.org.

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Calendar of Events

Coffee, Tea, Mommy & Me: 11 a.m. Friday and Sept. 13, 20 and 27

Child Passenger Safety and Arts and Crafts Activities: 11 a.m. Friday

Back-To-School Fashion Show: noon Sept. 8

Water Safety and Arts and Crafts Activities: 11 a.m. Sept. 13

Center for Living Peace Presents Peace Dove Craft: noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 14

Home Safety and South Coast Music Together: 11 a.m. Sept. 20

Wyland and Ocean Institute: noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 21

BMX Freestyle Team Stunt Show: 1 and 3 p.m. Sept. 22

Moon Festival Children’s Art Contest Awards Ceremony: 1 p.m. Sept. 22

Nutrition and Gymboree: 11 a.m. Sept. 27

Team Adrenalin from Australia: 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28