When the pandemic hit in 2020, the inaugural festival for HaHaHa Kidzfest Penticton was cancelled and the board of directors were faced with a difficult decision: to let go of the idea of an arts and culture festival for children and families in the South Okanagan or to think outside of the box and come up with a new plan to make the festival happen.
The answer was quickly made clear.
“There was such a strong feeling at our board meeting that this event was exactly what our community needs at a time like this,” says board chair Rachel Bland.
Kidzfest week, held in Penticton June 7 to 11, will be a five-day arts and culture experience that will reach every corner of our South Okanagan communities. The festival will end with drive-in event that will take place on Friday, June 11, the closing day of Kidzfest week. There will be two showings at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.. Allowance of 50 cars per show.
Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks for that event.
The live show will be circus performer Flyin’ Bob.
According to Bland, “knowing that the traditional idea of bringing children to a festival site wouldn’t be feasible this year, we started to think creatively and decided to bring the festival to the children. We are, quite literally, taking the show on the road!”
This year’s festival will be in the form of kits full of festival activities designed for different groups, followed by a circus show and drive-in event. The limited live circus shows available to schools are sold out.
Family Kits and “Kids at Heart” Kits go on sale April 28.
Kits have been available for elementary schools to book and those have been going fast.
Now kits for families and seniors are available.
Family Kits are five days of fun from opening celebrations, bedtime stories, artist and author recordings, a cultural recipe for each day of the week. Plus, a different arts activity with supplies.
These activities are adaptable to any age and have been co-created with our community activity partners: Penticton Art Council, Penticton Art Gallery, Penticton Museum, Penticton Academy of Music, and the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services.
“Kids at Heart” Kits are for seniors who wish to take part in Kidzfest Week but don’t have full time kiddos at home. This kit would be great to do an activity or two with your grandchildren as well.
“We are so excited to have gained approval for this event. We really wanted to give the community as much programming as possible and this drive- in event will be such a fun family event” says Bland.
Take part in Kidzfest Week by purchasing a kit for your family or as a gift. Visit hahahakidzfest.com to get your kit.
Stay connected to the Kidzfest Facebook and Instagram accounts.
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