The North Okanagan Children’s Festival returns March 18-19, 2023
The North Okanagan Children’s Festival is back with even more fun for the whole family! The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre proudly presents the 2nd Annual North Okanagan Children’s Festival on March 18 & 19, 2023.
Running over two days at the beginning of spring break, the festival offers toddlers, school aged children and their families live performances, workshops and interactive play. Performances and workshops will take place each morning and afternoon with free activities happening over the lunch hour. There will be plenty of fun in and around the Performing Arts Centre with roving entertainers, outdoor activities and food trucks serving up tasty treats!
The North Okanagan Children’s Festival was created by VDPAC Artistic Director Erin Kennedy in March 2022 to help bring families together and introduce little ones to the joy of live performance in a welcoming and relaxed environment.
“The North Okanagan Children’s Festival holds a special place in my heart,” said Kennedy. “There have been so many new people moving to our community and we are looking forward to bringing families together to get to know one another.”
This year’s festival includes two acclaimed performers who are sure to delight festival-goers of all ages.
Circus Incognitus (11:00AM Saturday & Sunday): Former Cirque Eloize performer Jamie Atkins’ Circus Incognitus is an unforgettable one-man circus show that will have you holding your breath between laughs! This delightfully slapstick show includes juggling, balancing, slackwire walking and plenty of physical comedy. A show for the young and the young at heart! The New York Times called Circus Incognitus “imperceptible genius.” Recommended for ages 5 and up.
RupLoops the Human Radio (1:00PM Saturday & Sunday): Rup Sidhu aka RupLoops (roop-loops) is a one-man-band who layers harmonies, beatboxing, instruments, and raps into entertaining and engaging musical experiences that are fun for all ages. In The Human Radio, he mixes hip-hop, blues and bhangra into a celebration of the human body as a musical instrument.
Teachers from the Vernon Community Music School are hosting two fun and interactive workshops for children and their caregivers each day. On Saturday, little ones can sing and rhyme in a Nursery Land Adventure and get cozy at a Campfire Sing Along. Sunday is an active day of movement and drumming with a Move Your Body workshop and a Percussion Extravaganza.
All workshops and performances are pick-your-price. This means that families choose how much they pay for workshops and tickets to performances from a range of prices ($0, $6, $10, $15, or $20).
“Having price choices is important to us so that all families can afford to attend the festival,” said Kennedy. “This let’s families pick the price that works for them while still supporting our non-profit theatre.”
Workshop space is very limited. Families are encouraged to register for workshops and book performance tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre presents 2nd Annual North Okanagan Children’s Festival on March 18 & 19, 2023. Performance tickets and workshop registrations are pick-your-price: $0, $6, $10, $15 or $20. For tickets and workshop registration, please call 250-549-SHOW (7469) or visit vdpac.ca.
