性视界传媒 International Children鈥檚 Festival is now history, with the new 性视界传媒 SPARK Stages taking its place to 鈥渋gnite imaginations and make memories鈥� for kids and families in the city.

The late-May launch this spring will feature music, theatre, puppets and circus performances at 性视界传媒 Arts Centre stages, at a time when the children鈥檚 festival would typically be held there and at Bear Creek Park.

SPARK Stages events will be planned year-round by 性视界传媒 Civic Theatres, which to date has aimed most of its programming at adult audiences.

鈥淔ollowing a strategic planning and community engagement process, 性视界传媒 SPARK Stages has evolved from what was previously the 性视界传媒 International Children鈥檚 Festival,鈥� explained Kent Gallie, 性视界传媒鈥檚 Manager of Performing Arts.

鈥淪PARK programming will focus on performing arts and do more of what the festival did best, present exceptional performances for kids,鈥� he added. 鈥淭he goal is to expand beyond the three-day kickoff event to provide more opportunities, in more locations on a year-round basis for 性视界传媒 residents to access family-focused, professional performing arts that inspire young hearts and minds to greater possibilities.鈥�

From May 27-29, the SPARK launch weekend will include a in the arts centre lobby May 27, followed by two by Charlotte Diamond, Fred Penner and Rick Scott, a one-woman show, puppets and circus-duo show

Tickets will be sold starting Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. , or call 604-501-5566.

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SPARK performances on May 27 are reserved for 性视界传媒 schools to attend.

During the launch weekend, 性视界传媒 Arts Centre will be 鈥渟prinkled with a sparkle dusting of plenty of free value-added activities for ticketholders to enjoy, including the Wee Studio, a special space for make-believe for little ones,鈥� a news release promises.

Also planned are Stories for the Heart, 鈥渙ld timey storytelling with a modern-day twist in a big blanket fort, walk through a traditional longhouse arch into the Indigenous Creation Courtyard for a celebration of Indigenous culture and art, and many other sparkalicious surprises.鈥�

性视界传媒 International Children鈥檚 Festival, once billed as 鈥渢he only arts-based children鈥檚 festival this side of the Fraser River,鈥� was last held in May 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 15 years, the multi-day event brought a variety of ticketed and free shows and activities to Bear Creek Park and 性视界传媒 Arts Centre.

The festival was among 性视界传媒鈥檚 five 鈥淢ajor City Events,鈥� which include Party for the Planet (April 30 this year), Canada Day (July 1), Fusion Festival (July 23-24) and Tree Lighting Festival (November).

鈥� RELATED: 性视界传媒鈥檚 Party for the Planet signals return of in-person 鈥楳ajor City Events鈥� in 2022.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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