The Whistler Children's Festival (WCF) is a special undertaking in the hearts of many, including Arts Whistler executive director Maureen Douglas.
It's the only Sea to Sky event that fully caters to kids while allowing parents to get caught up in the fun as well. Each year, families are invited to choose their own adventure with all kinds of performances, street activities and surprises on the menu. For one weekend, it's a non-digital haven where youngsters can unplug and lose themselves in memorable experiences, not their ever-present screens.
New in 2025, Florence Petersen Park will join the Audain Art Museum, Whistler Museum, Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, Maury Young and Whistler Public Library as an event hotspot.
"We love now being able to do these shows inside an actual, proper theatre [in the Maury Young Arts Centre], but it's 200 seats. Even though we've increased the number of shows … at 200 seats doing four shows a day, that's still just 800 seats," says Douglas. "We have four to five thousand people participating outside, so we really wanted to find a way to add more programs … another [free hub] that includes stage shows, lots of roving entertainment and animation [in Florence Petersen Park]."
The theatrical offerings themselves include Science World, juggler Mike Battie and the Myrtle Sisters, a colourful trio of vaudevillian artists. Douglas is happy to see that lots of parents want their kids to experience live drama—back in 2023, the WCF welcomed an entire generation that had never been inside a theatre before.
"You could see the wonder on their faces. We've been fortunate to get great talent … we've got great sound and great lights and all the rest of it," she says. "We used to start our first show at 11 a.m., but now it's going to start at 10. We surveyed a whole bunch of parents who were like, 'that's great,' because so many kids rise early in the day, and they've got to worry about naps until they're about five years old or so.'"
A bevy of options
Didn't get a ticket to the Maury Young on the day you wanted? Fear not, as there will be plenty more to do around town.
One returning talent from last year goes by the name of Karima Essa, an acclaimed Bollywood dancer who performs in full regalia before leading a dance workshop for all ages to enjoy. WCF organizers try to mix up their roster of artists each year, but Essa was invited back due to her popularity.
Woody's World Stage Show likewise promises to be an energetic affair. Woody Clark is an Australian ukulele maestro who gets families belting out music with his signature puppet-filled cabaret experience.
As far as locals are concerned, don't forget Kids' Karaoke with Monty Biggins.
"The parents get a real kick out of it. I think they're surprised when some of their kids take the microphone and just give their heart and soul," comments Douglas. "We can expect to hear some hits from Frozen, probably a fair sampling of Taylor Swift. You think that's the kind of thing all the girls will go for, but those boys are getting up there and giving it as well."
Arts Whistler's cultural connector partners are joining the fun as well. The Whistler Museum and Archives elicited unprecedented levels of visitor engagement in 2024 with its entry-by-donation craft day, while the Library is hosting a new workshop for children aged seven to 10 called "Growth Spurt: Working Our Emotional Muscles."
Douglas explains: "We're bringing in [Shanique Kelly] and [Sword Avola] to teach kids a little bit about getting in touch with their emotions, helping them understand that emotions are something everybody has, it doesn't make you weak. It's framed at the library to give a quieter space, something we hope will help kids who might be neurodiverse."
Festival organizers are also returning their Helping Hands initiative, done in conjunction with the Whistler Community Services Society. By donating tickets and inviting patrons to do the same, the WCF has enabled folks to participate in spite of monetary difficulty.
"I've had families in the community who … have come up and thanked us for being able to take these shows in with their kids and have a great experience," Douglas says. "We're really happy that we're able to keep this festival so inclusive for everybody. The event business is tough, and being steady for 42 years is a testament to all the people we've worked with in the Arts Council before us and all those volunteers who started it."
The WCF runs from May 16 to 18. Learn more at whistlerchildrensfestival.com.
