Children’s festival marks 30 years

The children’s festival plants the seeds for a fun celebration as it marks its 30th birthday in 2018 with entertainment, educational activities and much more, Cam Fuller writes.

HISTORY:

The fest dates back to the early 1990s when it was held in downtown Saskatoon along the riverbank with acts performing in tents and church halls along Spadina Avenue. Back then it was called the Northern Saskatchewan International Children’s Festival. Tickets were sold to individual shows and there were free on-site activities like the beloved giant Earth Ball.

TODAY:

The Nutrien Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan, as it is now known, occupies Kinsmen Park near the big ferris wheel and across the street from the soon-to-come Children’s Discovery Museum. Instead of individual tickets, there’s a $10 admission to the site that covers all entertainment and activities.

MAJOR ACTS:

Local performers like the Wanuskewin Heritage Park Dancers mingle with international entertainers. People bend over backwards to see Jonathan Burns, a comic contortionist who’s been on Letterman, Leno and, yes, France Has Talent.

Li Liu is an acrobat who started at the Chinese National Circus School in Beijing and came to North America to perform with the Ringling Brothers.

Kamikaze Fireflies features Rob Williams and Casey Martin from Los Angeles who mix hula hooping, whip cracking and street theatre. They got a standing ovation on America’s Got Talent and have four Guinness World Records. There are more than 15 performance groups.

ACTIVITIES:

The theme of growing is big this year. Title sponsor Nutrien will have its mobile classroom on site to teach how soil, nutrients and seeds produce food and flowers. Kids can plant their own sunflower to take home.

The Saskatchewan Arts Board deconstructs gardening by growing food in unique containers: tomatoes in a fish tank, lettuce in a boot, watermelons in a suitcase.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation has a plant and animal maze for kids to find bison, western red lilies, sage grouse and saskatoon berries.

HOURS, ETC.:

June 2 and 3: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 4 and 5: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Sunset Party on Saturday, June 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. offers free admission and entertainment by headliners like Li Liu, Jonathan Burns and Kamakaze Fireflies. Site passes $10 per day. Tickets and information at nutrienchildrensfestival.com