Adventures in pioneering and some whimsical “fairy finding” will be part of the 17th-Annual Central Alberta Children’s Festival this weekend.
The musical entertainment, crafts and activities will run in from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Red Deer’s Rotary Recreation Park, 4501-47A Ave., just south of the outdoor pool.
“It’s a great way to engage with your kids, have fun, and experience different cultures,” said Judy Scott, executive-director of the festival host, Family Services Central Alberta.
She described the two-day event that’s expected to attract several thousand children and their parents as “a safe and organic way for kids to be active and do activities, with no pressure.”
This year, Red Deer’s Heritage Square is being incorporated into the festival as a “pioneer village.” Scott said kids can learn to milk a (wooden) cow, make homemade butter out of cream, collect chicken eggs from haystacks and discover what it would have been like to attend one-room school house.
Children who want to jump about can do it in the Fun Zone on a bouncy pirate’s ship and inflatable slide. There will also be a Ninja Obstacle Course to test young climbing skills.
Scott said this year’s entertainment line-up includes Fizzlewit’s Fairy Finding, which will take children on a “whimsical adventure to a magical kingdom.”
The wonders of chemistry will be demonstrated by the Z Science Guy (a local teacher), while Calgary’s comic magician James Jordan entertains. Among the musicians are singers Sylvia Chave and Mandy Morris.
Craft and activity tents will be set up by the Red Deer Arts Council, the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre, Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association (CAIWA) and Care for Newcomers.
The festival’s admission ($10 per person or $35 per family) is cash only at the gate. But once you are inside in festival, everything is free — including some popcorn, said Scott.
While hotdogs will be sold outside the gates for anyone interested, patrons are welcome to bring their own bag lunches and snacks, as well as water bottles, which can be refilled at the festival, Scott added.
For more information, please visit centralalbertachildrensfestival.ca.