There will be plenty of entertainment and activities for families and children to enjoy at the annual Kootenay Children's Festival in Cranbrook.
The free event runs May 9 and 10 in Rotary Park, with a jam-packed schedule of events for people of all interests. The festival marks its 39th year as the largest free event for children and families in southeast B.C.
Festivities kick off on Friday, May 9 at 3 p.m., with a toddler paint event hosted by the Arts Council, followed by a drumming workshop run by Rhythm By Nature, and a few performances from edgy grungy local high school bands including Charity Standing Orders, Caught In The Landslide and Lined With Velvet. The bands recently participated in the Next Play Youth Music Performance Competition on May 4. This is a unique twist to previous years, which only featured professional adult bands.
"It happened that there's a lot of activity going on with the high schools. The timing worked out really nicely and I think the hope is, is that we see a good response with it, then we get to continue with it for a while," said Key City Theatre's executive director Galen Olstead.
Friday's schedule serves as a light lead in to the festival, with the bulk of the activity happening on Saturday.
Olstead said organizers have had auspicious luck with weather each year, as it has been sunny and warm for all but one festival in the past decade. The forecast indicates that it's shaping up to be another beautiful spring day this year, calling for sunny 21 degree weather on Saturday.
Saturday events start at 10 a.m. and run until mid-afternoon.
The Merry Marching Band from Quebec takes to the stage, performing a lighthearted and chaotic mix of eclectic music and slapstick comedy.
"The musicians are part of a band and they keep falling asleep and the band is trying to bring everything together. When you see it, it's delightful," said Olstead.
There will be a few stations set up for youth to explore, including the College of the Rockies science station, a greenhouse station with free plants, a poetry party where children can write their own rhymes, and a van painting station.
Mountain Song Children's Choir will perform.
The City of Cranbrook is bringing back its Touch a Vehicle display for another year, where children can see a bus, police cruiser, and garbage and fire trucks up close. The fire truck is a particular draw, due to its long sky-high ladder.
Green Fools Circus troupe magicians and puppeteers will be doing rounds at the festival, teaching children circus skills. Keep an eye out for local clown Jerrod Bondy.
There are a few Indigenous programs on the agenda as well. There will be a tipi that children can visit for interactive activities, and ʔaq’am educator Bonnie Harvey will tell a traditional story. Olstead said he's hoping the Indigenous hoop dancers and drummers will come perform, but this group has not confirmed yet.
Events run 3 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday May 10. To see a full schedule of events with dates and times, visit www.keycitytheatre.com .
