The 37th annual International Children’s Festival of the Arts kicked off under Tuesday’s cloudy skies. But it certainly didn’t dampen the spirited cheers of several thousand students that arrived in yellow school buses from across Alberta’s cities and small towns.
Running until Sunday June 3 alongside St. Albert’s banks of the Sturgeon River, it is the biggest and longest running children’s festival in North America.
This year’s theme is Stories Alive and it features a mix of things ranging from eight main stage performances celebrating cultures across the world to site activities, roving artists and a high-energy outdoor stage.
At Tuesday’s media launch St. Albert Cultural Services Director Kelly Jerrott asked her enthusiastic audience of grades 2 and 3 students from École Father Jan this question:
“What would it be like if fairy tale characters came to life before your eyes?”
“Awesome,” replied several small voices from the audience.
Smiling at the replies, Jerrott went on to say, “The possibilities and curiosities are endless.”
And they are. This year’s feature performances run the gamut from glow in the dark circus adventure and African drumming to Celtic tap dancing and jaw-dropping magic.
If you enjoy puppetry check out Plastic/Plastique where everyday objects are turned into puppets. Or see Thumbelina, an enchanting classic fairy tale blending puppetry, dance and music.
Neverland is an all-youth circus troupe telling their version of the Peter Pan story as aerialists, tumblers, jugglers and acrobats. On the other hand, magician Ron Pearson’s The Mystery Wonder Show blends magical illusion with delightful physical comedy.
Discover new rhythms with The StepCrew’s fusion of Irish stepdance and modern tap or join Singing Africa with Jacky Essombe for an interactive 45 minutes of call and response, dancing and drumming.
The Rainbow Fish is a marine adventure told through blacklight puppetry while St. Albert Children’s Theatre brings to life Junie B. Jones, the Musical.
There is also the Festival Finale, a potpourri of festival favourites recreated through a burst of music, dance, theatre and magic.
If you’re spending an entire day at the festival, look into site activities. Every year organizers like to change it up and this time, Musée Heritage combines beading and a Witness Blanket introduction with a large scale installation.
The Art Gallery of St. Albert instead encourages children to participate in a literary work by offering suggestions how to make a better community.
And of course, there are the popular favourites – Grandma Willow, Jason and the Argonauts, Chinese calligraphy, mandala mosaic and a design challenge where children problem solve and build a device from Lego.
Visitors can take a breather at the free events: the Outdoor Stage, photo booth, airbrush tattoos and the Global Canadian Heritage Trail.
Check out the free International Children’s Festival app with extensive information on shows, activities, times and site directions.
Hours are Wednesday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All tickets are available at the Arden box office or www.ticketmaster.ca.
