This year marks the 44th anniversary of the International Children’s Festival of the Arts. Throughout its lifetime, the festival has aimed to create an atmosphere for children and youth that is engaging, innovative and inspiring, regardless of their financial circumstances or personal needs.
The exciting extravaganza runs May 29 to June 1 in downtown St. Albert on the flanks of the Sturgeon River. The four-day event offers six feature performances, paid activities, free things and Toddler Town for the little ones. Expect to enjoy theatre, dance, music, circus, magic and a series of cultural and artistic events.
School and group tickets have been selling since February. However, public tickets are set to go on sale Wednesday, April 2.
Hands-down the festival’s most popular show year-after-year is the St. Albert Children’s Theatre production. This year, artistic director Janice Flower has selected the wacky, vibrant musical of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr.
“St. Albert Children’s Theatre is always the first one to sell. Thursday and Friday tickets are sold out, but weekend tickets are still on sale. We’ve even added an extra evening performance because we’re aware of the popularity of this group,” said Andrea Gammon, festival coordinator.
This year’s out-of-country highlight show is Australia’s A Simple Space. Seven fearless, body-bending acrobats push the limits of human capability and try to outdo each other with daring stunts, off-the-wall tricks and pretzel-like body twists.
“This show is not about crazy lights and loud music. It’s about unbelievable skill. You see things you think are impossible,” said Gammon. “It’s not a narrative. It is a story about friendship and competitive playfulness that gets progressively more complicated. It’s not about the trappings, but about what the body can do.”
Canada’s Splash’N Boots, also known as Nick Adams and Taes Leavitt, return for their seventh run at the festival. With their hit TV show on Treehouse TV and Disney Jr. Canada, the captivating duo performs an ever-evolving, toe-tapping gig that brings joy to young children.
“They empower and celebrate children and encourage them to be themselves. Splash’N Boots makes sure every child is seen for who they are.”
Young audiences will also get a kick out of Mario the Magician, who weaves together magic, robots, science and slapstick. The American magician is a world entertainer and focuses on creating a positive energy.
“He was winner of the Best Overall Children’s Show at the Adelaide Fringe. If you look at his material, it is heartfelt and inspirational. He’s all about creating things out of nothing. He encourages people not to be defeated, but to be creative and energetic. He’s very inspiring for people of all ages.”
Canada’s The Merry Marching Band takes audiences on a whirlwind musical tour across the world. Using brass instruments, the musicians travel from Quebec to Brazil to Ukraine and back. Did I mention a stopover on Mars?
“It’s mostly non-verbal with a little bit of text.”
A popular First Nations dancer and storyteller returns for a series of educational performances accompanied by live drumming and flute playing. Darrel Brertton Jr., garbed in traditional regalia, will perform Ahkameyimok (to persevere).
“It’s about resiliency and the indomitable spirit pushing through, being brave and celebrating your cultural identity. It’s about empowerment, celebrating who you are and being proud.”
In addition to stage shows, organizers have planned a series of colourful paid activities. They include learning different b-boy dance moves, juggling, spinning plates, drumming, storytelling, forming suspended art pieces, printmaking, hoola-hooping and creating art from nature.
Free stage entertainment runs all day in front of St. Albert Place with six rotating artists. They are magician Jay Flair, DJ Funkasaurus Rex, Dan the One-Man Band, Darrell Brertton Jr., Dragon Dance-Hong De, and circus artist Kate Ryan.
Additional free activities range from storytime and tattoo work, to designing characters from wooden pegs and shaping an installation from yarn.
And Toddler Town is a mini-festival within a festival suitable for babies to five-year-olds. It features storytelling, musical performances, crafts, self-guided sensory bins and a fun zone. Nursing mothers are provided privacy and a changing area for babies.
The Children’s Festival of the Arts is wheelchair friendly and has calming zones. It also loans inclusion kits for anyone with heightened sensory issues.
Gammon stated the budget for this mega showpiece is $534,000. The breakdown is as follows: 33 per cent is earned revenue from ticket sales, while 15 per cent is provided by the private sector. Federal and provincial grants come in at 18 per cent while the City of St. Albert contributes 34 per cent in various areas including in-kind services.
Mainstage show tickets are $18.25 and paid activities are $8. For additional information or ticket requests call the Arden box office at 780-459-1542.
