The 2016 International Children’s Festival of the Arts is gearing up for another transformational five-day experience running May 31 to June 4.
Situated in downtown St. Albert on the banks of the Sturgeon River, the carnivalesque festival has developed an outstanding reputation, and is a magnet for more than 50,000 school-age children and visitors from across the province.
To continue its success, festival organizers are appealing for over 800 community volunteers, 12 years and older, to sign up.
Volunteers are needed to man positions in both outdoor and indoor venues. Individuals excited about working with children are needed as makeup artists, activity assistants, ushers, hospitality helpers, food delivery and as part of the many green teams keeping the site clean.
Individuals interested in volunteering are asked to attend a Volunteer Orientation on either Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. or Tuesday, May 17 at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Hall, 6 Taché St. The deadline for volunteer registration is Friday, May 20.
A standard criminal record check and vulnerable sector check is required for all volunteers over the age of 18. It can be completed at the volunteer orientations.
For a complete list of positions and to register online visit childfest.com.
Cupcake Challenge
Once again the Friends of Northern Alberta Children’s Festival Society have geared up for one of the festival’s tastiest events – the Cupcake Challenge.
“It’s an opportunity for our partners to come out and fundraise for the festival,” said volunteer challenge organizer Katie Hayes.
It runs Saturday, May 7 at St. Albert Centre, by The Bay courtyard, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The challenge pits roughly a dozen teams against each other to see who can decorate the most enticing cupcakes.
Each team is given 48 cupcakes to decorate during a 90-minute time limit. Six are put on display for public voting and later auctioned. The others are sold throughout the mall.
Since the challenge was introduced, cupcake decorators have gone out of their way to outdo other teams creating butterfly, flowers, animal and rainbow designs.
“Last year someone even came up with a burgers and fries theme,” Hayes said. “Teams are coming together and it’s like a mini-festival with the community coming together.”
This year organizers are also setting up a station for the Kollide Project, a visual arts concept that aims to make 35,000 butterflies to be assembled as an arts installation during the festival.
“We’ll be supplying material and people can stop by and make butterflies. They’ll be mostly origami butterflies made from paper folding.”
