
Festival Fun for the Whole Family!
Creative Corner Arts & Crafts Station, Children's Storytelling, & Scavenger Hunt (Saturday, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm @ Silver Maple Big Top/Family Tent)
Get Crafty at Creative Corner!
Jani Witoski and Angela Dubois (Angel St. Cyr) are running the festival's arts and craft station this year. Fun for kids, families, and people of all ages, participate in a hands-on creative experience that is different each time. Activities will include:
-
Decoupage Jar Lights (fairy lights)
-
Egg Carton Caterpillars (painting)
-
Bubble Station
-
Colouring Pages (butterfly wing making)
-
Children's Storybook Readings (Angel St. Cyr, author of Grandma & The Loupgarou & Chickadee Trust)
-
Let's Make Caterpillars into Butterflies (combining egg carton and caterpillar wing cut-outs)
The folks at Creative Corner will also be organizing a fun scavenger hunt for painted rocks through the Cottonwood Trail on Saturday.
Eco-Therapy on the Cottonwood Trail by Cheryl Cohan (Saturday, 1:00 pm at Cottonwood Trail Entrance)
Anthropologist, Marriage and Family therapist, and land steward Cheryl Cohan will guide participants on a therapeutic walk into the wisdom nature. She will teach a bit about horticultural and ecotherapy as a healing modality and offer tools for transformation in stressful times.
Bio: Cheryl Cohan is an anthropologist, marriage and family therapist, land steward and biophiliac. She works as a therapist, and offers programs and trainings. In addition, she co-manages matlockretreat.ca, a restored natural habitat and farmstead.
Windchime-Making with Candis Militere (Saturday, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm beside Big Top)
Using a combination of hand-cut metal objects, driftwood, and other accoutrements, we will assemble a wind chime to charm the birds. If people have needle nose pliers they can lend and bring along, that would be appreciated. From 5 years old to 85, everyone will enjoy this craft. There will be paint, paper-mâché, and beads to upcycle your wind chime. No two will be alike.
Judy & Ruby — Children’s Entertainment (Saturday @ Big Top)
Two of Winnipeg's favourite family performers are back at the festival to entertain kids, and of course, kids at heart under the big top with three 20-minute shows (at 1:00 pm, 2:20 pm, and 5:00 pm) featuring oodles of laughter, storytelling, singing, and interactive fun!
Magician Chris Kitchen (Saturday, 3:40 pm - 4:00 pm @ Big Top)
Join Chris Kitchen for a highly-popular children's show that combines magic and humour for all ages!
Hula Hooping (Saturday & Sunday)
Simply grab a hula hoop if you see one, and move your body during any type of music during the festival program!
Northern Lights Bellydance Troupe (Saturday, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm @ Green Lawn south of Big Top)
Bridget and Vickie of The Northern Lights Bellydance Troupe will be hosting a workshop of ‘American Tribal Style’ Bellydance. Enjoy this fun, energetic form of bellydance complete with whoop & hollaring! We will deck you out in costumes and teach you basic ATS vocabulary which will allow the troupe to put on a performance to live music!
What is American Tribal Style or ATS? ATS movements are inspired by folkloric dances of the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and India. ATS is a method of improvisational choreography, using a vocabulary of movements and cues allowing the dancers to improvise together while dancing.
Acrylic Painting Workshop with Olivia Leader (Sunday, 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm @ Big Top)
Olivia is a local artist and art teacher in Portage la Prairie. She has taught acrylic painting classes at Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment, local schools, businesses and fundraisers. She will be hosting an acrylic painting workshop at the festival for ages 10 and up!
Join Olivia as she guides you in painting a 8 x 10 canvas. You will be supplied with everything needed to complete the painting in about an hour and will be able to bring the painting home at the end of the class.
Songwriting Workshop with Taylor Abrahamse (Sunday, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm @ Red Barn/Harlequin Hangout)
Limited spots available; participants must pre-register for $20/person here).
Why do we forget some songs as soon as they end, while others become part of our DNA after just one listen? It can't just be practice, can it? Is it luck? Witchcraft? Writing an unforgettable song doesn't have to be such a gamble. With just a few deceptively simple songwriting tools, you can open up the possibility of writing timeless tunes that will brighten people's lives for years to come.
Gain insights into the songwriting process from Kerrville Newfolk Winner & longtime singer/songwriter/coach Taylor Abrahamse, described as a 'songwriting genius' by Grammy-winning producer/engineer Eddie Kramer (The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Carly Simon & many more). Whether you're a complete beginner or have experience, you'll develop a deeper appreciation for the craft and mystery of songwriting through this community songwriting workshop event. Just bring yourself, a pen and paper - instruments optional.
Please note this is a workshop, not a performance. Be ready to follow some fun, guided songwriting exercises and to possibly share what you write during the workshop.
Please arrive on time - latecomers might not be allowed in, or may only be allowed to quietly observe. Please bring a pad of paper, pencil/pen, and water thermos. Instruments are optional, and if you choose to bring one, smaller instruments are encouraged (hand drum, guitar, ukulele, etc).
Open Mic Night (Saturday, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm & Sunday, noon - 2:30 pm @ Red Barn/Harlequin Hangout)
Music, comedy, poetry, theatre, dance...an open microphone/stage where anything goes! You can sign up to perform your new or original material in front of a supportive audience or simply sit back to enjoy a variety of emerging and established talent. Join the acoustic open jam sessions with your own instruments between Red Barn sets.