Organizers of the Whistler Children’s Art Festival announced the lineup for the 23 rd annual festival this week, showing a greater emphasis on performance art workshops and live entertainment.
This year’s festival takes place July 23-24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on both days, at Franz’s Trail in Creekside, with workshops taking place in a series of tents.
Traditionally held in May in community hall and school gym venues, the festival was moved to July this year to combat declining attendance due to a larger number of children’s activities taking place near the end of the school year, Whistler Arts Council executive director Doti Niedermayer has said. There were also mutual benefits in aligning with Tourism Whistler’s 2nd Annual Whistler Music and Arts Festival, also taking place that weekend.
The Franz’s Trail venue has allowed for a greater number of performers. A main stage will feature kid-friendly rockers The Blues Berries, circus performer Matt Levy, magician Steven Best, musician Chris Hamilton, local piano students from the Jana Marie Dupuis Music Studio and local dancers from the Soul Funktion Dance Studio.
The festival will also feature roving performers including stilt walkers, clowns, musicians, a belly dancer, and street theatre.
This year’s art workshops mix something old with something new.
Longtime favourites such as painting with Isobel MacLaurin and bear paw print T-shirts with Michael Allen are being offered alongside new workshops such as Spoken word/Rap with kids’ hip-hop artist Ndidi Cascade and fortune cookie making at Joey Chan’s Restaurant.
Other workshops this year include cartooning, junk-jams, mask-making, carving, glass-painting, kite-making, toolbox carpentry and percussion.
Along with the paid workshops a number of free activities will be offered including storytelling sessions, carnival games, a mural project and face painting.
At 23 years young, the Whistler Arts Council-run event is Whistler’s longest running festival.
This year’s event is still seeking volunteers.
For more information go to www.whistlerartscouncil.com.
