Frugal Family Fun

This spring's Kids' Mix concert benefits children in a different way: by increasing the chance their parents will take them. Rather than donating a portion of the gate to a children's charity, there is no gate. The $5 admission fee has been banished, and there is no parking fee.

"Because the economy was hit so hard in Las Vegas, and families are hit the hardest, we wanted to make this a turnkey event for families to attend," said event coordinator Mallory Berry of CBS Radio.

Headlining the fifth annual concert -- presented by KMXB-FM, 94.1 and KYDZ-AM, 1140, both of which are broadcasting on site -- will be teeny-bopper fave Jasmine Sagginario (winner of Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" competition) and The Falco Family (who appeared on ABC's "Wife Swap"). Local high school band Hyperion's Horizon also will perform.

As usual, faces will be painted, balloons twisted and putts putted. New this year will be dog tricks from Sit Means Sit and a clinic by Las Vegas Indoor Soccer.

"Basically, everything a kid would want," Berry says.

Appearances also are planned by "Star Wars" Stormtroopers and Marvel Comics characters Iron Man and Wolverine -- or at least, sweaty adults dressed like them. (Shh, don't tell Junior.)

"It's not a dinky Iron Man costume, either," Berry says, promising one of the actual suits donned by Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 2."

For the past four years, Berry says, Kids' Mix averaged about 6,000 visitors. "By making it free, we're hoping we're going to have more," Berry says.

Children's Miracle Network will still benefit, however, since CBS has made the charity its sole water vendor.

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@review journal. com or 702-383-0456.