2013

A busy dad pumped for the Whistler Children's Festival

A busy dad pumped for the Whistler Children's Festival
As a very busy dad of 2 beautiful girls, finding time to plan fun events is sometimes a challenge, especially when summer rolls around.  This summer I'm looking forward to spending a couple of days along with nearly 5,000 other participants at the Whistler Children's Festival.  The festival is celebrating it's 30th anniversary at the Whistler Olympic plaza in the heart of Whistler Village, taking place over 2 days and is jam-packed with tons of activities to keep the kids entertained (check out the list of 19 workshops to choose from).


The Whistler Children’s Festival


The Whistler Children’s Festival is the longest-running festival in Whistler, attracting locals and visitors looking for a cultural family friendly experience in one of North America’s primary resorts. The festival comes alive with a full roster of arts workshops, activities, animation and roving characters, and a main stage that features musical and performing acts by award-winning entertainers.Whistler Children's Festival - lots of fun!

The festival was founded with the purpose of introducing school-aged children to the arts using over 80 hands-on workshops led by professional artists and artisans from BC. Children explore the arts with workshops in ceramics, jewellery, soapstone carving, tie-dye, percussion and fine art, in a festive environment with their parents, siblings and friends by their side.

To learn more about WCF and stay up-to-date, be sure to check out the Facebook page and follow on Twitter .  (use HASHTAG #WhistlerKidsFest)

 

[toggle title="Press Release: The Whistler Children's Festival Moves to Whistler Olympic Plaza "]

For immediate release: Monday, February 25, 2013


Whistler, B.C. – The Whistler Arts Council (WAC) is excited to announce that the Whistler Children’s Festival has grown up and moved out – to Whistler Olympic Plaza! On July 13 and 14, 2013, the festival is celebrating its 30th year and, in doing so, moving back to where it all began.

The Whistler Children’s Festival began in the centre of the Village where the Whistler Public Library currently stands. In 1992, the festival moved with Myrtle Philip Community School to the school’s current location. In 2005, the festival moved again to the larger venue of Creekside to focus as much on live entertainment and animation as the art workshop component. The Creekside venue immediately changed the nature of the festival and saw the attendance quadruple. It became more interactive, animated and vibrant due to the mountain-base views, extensive Franz’s Trail layout and indoor space provided by the location. Now, due to the accessibility and visibility of Whistler Olympic Plaza, WAC expects to see the Whistler Children’s Festival attendance increase from 3,000 to approximately 5,000 in 2013.

“Moving the festival to Whistler Olympic Plaza has been on the radar for WAC for the last two years,” said Doti Niedermayer, WAC executive director. “The strong relationships we have established with Creekside businesses and accommodation providers have been integral to the festival’s success, so it caused hesitation.” Yet, as the festival receives incremental funding from the Festival, Events & Animation program (FE&A) and popularity grows, this move was necessary.

The open concept and central location will give families more choice in planning their weekend as they can stay onsite all day, or choose to come and go between workshops and performances, taking advantage of the proximity to numerous restaurants and shops. The festival will also attract a new audience of individuals and couples passing by as the humourous programming and inclusion of world music and dance is appealing to adults as well as children.

WAC sees this move as an exciting opportunity to create new partnerships with the merchants that surround Whistler Olympic Plaza, which means new activities for kids and new opportunities for the merchants. Their involvement will allow the fun, festive environment to spill over onto the stroll and beyond.

WAC remains grateful for the support from Creekside merchants and accommodation providers over the past eight years. Maintaining the preferred accommodation and festival packaging with the Creekside affiliates welcomes an ongoing alliance with these supporters to draw families to Creekside regardless of the “home” of the festival.

About the Whistler Children’s Festival:

The Whistler Children’s Festival is the longest-running festival in Whistler, attracting locals and visitors looking for a cultural family-friendly experience in one of North America’s primary resorts. The festival comes alive with a full roster of arts workshops, activities, animation and roving characters, and a main stage that features musical and performing acts by award-winning entertainers.

The festival was founded with the purpose of introducing school-aged children to the arts using over 80 hands-on workshops led by professional artists and artisans from BC. Children explore the arts with workshops in ceramics, jewellery, soapstone carving, tie-dye, percussion and fine art, in a festive environment with their parents, siblings and friends by their side.

About the Whistler Arts Council:

The Whistler Arts Council (WAC) has been integrating the arts into the daily life of Canada’s premier resort community since 1982. A respected community stakeholder, WAC is a registered charity that leverages strategic government and business partnerships to increase cultural tourism and community engagement by producing unique arts initiatives that foster audience, artist and economic opportunities.
WAC produces dynamic events year-round while operating Millennium Place, Whistler’s home for arts and culture featuring a 250-seat theater, gallery and meeting space.[/toggle]

[toggle title="A Getaway For The Grown-Ups, Too! Contest"]

And of course, if you'd like an opportunity to win an all expenses paid trip for a family of 4, just enter below.

  • 2 nights’ stay in Whistler for the Children’s Festival (for the nights of July 12th and 13th) for a family of 4

  • $100 gift certificate to Araxi restaurant (for an amazing dinner!)

  • $68 gift certificate for 4 hours of baby-sitting in Whistler, for up to 2 kids with Whistler Babysitters

  • 2 bath passes to the plush Scandinave Spa in Whistler


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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