Interested in helping us to plan this amazing festival?  Come join in and join a Committee or the Board.  We would love to have you take part. 

Please share your favourite memories and pictures on our Facebook page. 

You can also check out all the cool things on the images below.  Thank you to the AMAZING Chrystal Myers (www.chrystalmyers.com) for her beautiful artwork and stellar design sense in laying out all there is to see and do at the Festival. 

http://www.angelabrown.ca/nylon-zoo

And while you are there, also check out a new addition to the Festival this year: Literacy in the Environment's Story Walk. Share the gift of a story with your child and enjoy a peaceful stroll through the enchanted forest near Island Stage.

This year's Festival will feature some returning favourites.  Unfortunately we can't bring back everyone as there have been WAY too many fantastic experiences over the past 25 years (plus we would need a lot more silver in our budget for that to be possible:)   But one of our favourites for sure in the past eight years has been Dan the Balloon Man.  And no, it isn't because he spoils me with fabulous looks each year - it is because he works SO hard to meet the overwhelming demand from all the kids for his incredible creations.  People scour the site looking for him, hoping to get one of his masterpieces.  

We promised to reveal some of the great performers and experiences you can look forward to at the 25th Silver Anniversary edition of the Festival and here is the first one. This year's Festival will feature some returning favourites.  Unfortunately we can't bring back everyone as there have been WAY too many fantastic experiences over the past 25 years (plus we would need a lot more silver in our budget for that to be possible:)   But one of our favourites for sure in the past eight years has been Dan the Balloon Man.  And no, it isn't because he spoils me with fabulous looks each year - it is because he works SO hard to meet the overwhelming demand from all the kids for his incredible creations.  People scour the site looking for him, hoping to get one of his masterpieces.  
He keeps everyone entertained as he works his magic twisting balloons.  This year on Friday you can even take in his stage show at 10 am on the Avalon Beach Stage. The rest of the festival he will be roaming and twisting (and here is your secret hint for when you:  one of his favourite hang outs is near Harmony Bridge). 
Dan is an incredible guy to work with and a supreme artist when it comes to balloon artwork. Meet Dan Thiel ... aka Dan the Balloon Man.   www.dantheballoonman.ca  

"Our parade is very unique as it is led by a Kiddie Brigade of young children who have dressed up their bikes, scooters or shoes or whatever, to come march with Fat Cat and lead the way to the annual Children's Festival at Waterfront Park," explains Dorothee Birker, artistic director of the Festival. "The Kiddie Brigade was inspired by young William Butler a few years ago.  William's mom contacted us because he wanted to join the parade after having watched it the previous year. We naturally said, of course, and it has become a favourite tradition of the Festival."

All kids registered to march in the parade are entered into a draw and the lucky winner is crowned the Grand Marshall and has the honour of leading the whole parade as it makes it way from the corner of Richter Street and Cawston Ave to Water Street and finally to Waterfront Park.

Organizations and business entries are still welcome to join as well.  All entry forms are available online at www.fatcatfestival.ca or you can contact Dorothee Birker at 250-860-4911 or by email at fatcatfestival@gmail.com.

"Being part of the parade is a great way to show your pride and spirit and is great fun for both participants and onlookers,"  adds Birker.  "With our route along the Cawston Corridor and into the Cultural District, it has an amazing and warm community feel to it. It is also a unique parade because of the number of community participants, starting with the Kiddie Brigade and including marching martial arts demo teams, fantastic Fat Cat performers like Kinshira and Trixie the Clown, young dancers and cheerleaders and of course there are the mascots with the King of the Parade Jungle Fat Cat right at the front of it all." 

Marshalling for the parade takes place along Richter Street, between Clement and Cawston, as well as along Coronation Avenue.  Parking restrictions will be in effect and there will be road closures that impact residents.  We thank everyone for their patience and for taking care to ensure the safety of the parade route.

The Interior Savings Fat Cat Children's Festival was started in 1990 with the goal of offering high-calibre children's entertainment to the region's kids and families.  Over the past 25 years the Festival has continued to grow and evolve to meet the community needs and now offers a unique festival that is strongly rooted in the community while reaching into the future with innovative programming and experiences. The Festival is open to the community on both Friday and Saturday and offers a stellar school programme that will see over 1500 students from the district come to the Festival with their classes and teachers.  The Festival draws over 10,000 people from the region and beyond annually.

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For more information contact:

Dorothee Birker

Artistic Director, Interior Savings Fat Cat Children's Festival

P: 250-860-4911 

 https://youtu.be/SQ6TKuN5rjM

It's a great thing to do as a family or an organization or to just meet new friends. 

Call Dorothee 250-860-4911 or download the form and send it in to fatcatfestival@gmail.com.