Why Family and Youth Entertainment Matters More Than Ever

If you think back to your own childhood, chances are you can recall a moment when the arts left a lasting mark on you. Maybe it was sitting in a darkened theater and hearing live music swell for the first time. Or maybe it was a school field trip to a play that transported you to a whole new world. Those moments stick, don’t they?

For me, that spark of discovery came early and it shaped my whole life. I’ve now spent decades working in entertainment and running venues, but what keeps me inspired as much as the big names on the marquee is knowing how powerful the arts can be for kids and families when they experience it together.

Unfortunately, funding for arts in schools has been shrinking for years. Band programs, theater clubs, and field trips to concerts don’t have the same support they once did. The reality is we can’t count on public funding alone to give kids that exposure any more.

That’s why family and youth entertainment is so important. Live performances, concerts, and cultural events outside the classroom offer a chance for kids to explore creativity, curiosity, and community. They give families the joy of experiencing something magical together—and those experiences can leave fingerprints on a child’s imagination for life.

I’ve seen it countless times: a child watching a dancer and then twirling around the lobby afterward. A teenager who comes to a concert and realizes they want to pick up a guitar or a pair of drumsticks. A family leaving the theater with a memory they’ll talk about at dinner for years. Those moments matter just as much as the headliners.

So, when you buy a ticket to a family show or bring your kids (or grandkids, or nieces and nephews) to a performance, you’re not just giving them a fun night. You’re opening a door. A door into storytelling, music, creativity, and wonder. These are the kinds of things that shape how they see the world.

When families experience them together, they become part of a shared story that strengthens both kids and communities, and if you’ve ever left a show feeling lighter, inspired, or simply more connected to the people you came with, then you already know: the arts aren’t extra. They’re essential.

So, next time you see a family show on the calendar, I hope you’ll come. Bring the kids. Let them laugh too loud, ask questions, and soak it all in. You might be surprised by how much it inspires you, too.