Williamstown Elementary first-grader Aidan Thomas, right, dances alongside Parkersburg South sophomore Kamryn Vankirk, a member of the Southern Belles Dance Team, during Artsbridge’s Very Spectacular Arts Festival on Thursday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Dancing, balloon animals, pet rocks, musical instruments, puppets, yoga, karaoke and more greeted students with developmental differences from 34 schools across five counties in two states on Thursday.

Artsbridge held its 26th Very Spectacular Arts Festival at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, offering a host of activities to more than 300 students from Wood, Jackson, Pleasants and Doddridge counties in West Virginia and Washington County in Ohio.

“So there’s something for quite literally everyone, whatever their interest may be,” said Lyndsay Dennis, executive director of Artsbridge.

Students and their teachers and aides could move between activities as they wanted.

“School days are already structured enough; we didn’t want to structure their fun,” Dennis said.

Williamstown Elementary third-grader Hazel Hutchinson jumps as she and other students dance with Parkersburg South sophomore Kamryn Vankirk and members of the Southern Belles Dance Team during Artsbridge’s Very Spectacular Arts Festival on Thursday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

The event fulfills Artsbridge’s mission to educate, entertain and enrich, for people, particularly students, on both sides of the Ohio River. Dennis said arts programming can be limited by financial constraints in public schools.

“We’re just trying to bridge that gap,” she said.

Jessica Davis, a multi-categorical teacher at Williamstown Elementary School, was bringing students for the first time. She said the kids were enjoying things like dancing with the Parkersburg South High School Southern Belles Dance Team and making owls out of fabric from neckties and buttons.

“It gives an opportunity to get in and do different things they might not have the opportunity to do elsewhere,” Davis said.

Waterford Elementary School aide Kelly Moore was with kindergartener Carter Thompson as he enthusiastically decorated a pet rock.

Blennerhassett Middle School eighth-grader Brooklyn Dowler, right, plays along with Lawrence Greene, of Ugata Drum and Dance, in a hallway at West Virginia University at Parkersburg Thursday during Artsbridge’s Very Spectacular Arts Festival. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“Carter is definitely artistic, so this (has) everything he loves,” she said.

Lawrence Greene, with Ugata Drum and Dance, was demonstrating African drumming and allowing students to play along with him. An Artsbridge catalog artist from Athens County, he said he saw students he recognized from school events where he’s performed.

“This makes me feel like I’m part of the larger Parkersburg community,” Greene said. “It’s just a really fun event.”

Waterford Elementary kindergartener Carter Thompson decorates a pet rock during Artsbridge’s Very Spectacular Arts Festival Thursday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Balloon artist Isaac Blair, left, hands a balloon animal to Waterford Elementary third-grader Jesse Miller during Artsbridge’s Very Spectacular Arts Festival Thursday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Phillips Elementary School attendant Darlene Baldwin, left, walks with first-grader Thea Steelsmith between activities Thursday at Artsbridge’s Very Spectacular Arts Festival at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Steelsmith carries a balloon elephant and had an elephant painted on her face. Baldwin said the elephant is Steelsmith’s “spirit animal.” (Photo by Evan Bevins)