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Family Day ready to roll in Richmond with 10th Children’s Arts Festival

City advising people to book early for some activities due to past popularity
Alan Campbell

There’s no excuse not to get out in Richmond and enjoy the upcoming Family Day with the kids.

On the long weekend leading to Monday, Feb. 12, the City of Richmond and its community partners have planned more than 65 events and programs for families to enjoy.

Many of the events are free and, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, there’s no shortage of things to do.

A few of the events include:

* Pancake breakfast and activities at West Richmond Community Centre (Saturday, Feb. 10) and at Cambie Community Centre (Monday, Feb. 12);

* Try-It activities at Steveston Community Centre (Feb. 10 and 11);

* Family Passport Challenge at the Richmond Olympic Oval that includes Olympian autographs, speed skating sessions, green screen photo booth and CBC kids crafts as well as a Family Skate (Feb. 12);

* Family Yoga at Thompson Community Centre (Feb. 10) and Parent and Preteens Yoga at Steveston (Feb. 12);

* Craft activities at the Steveston Tram (Feb. 12);

* 15-minute tours and exhibit scavenger hunts all weekend at Britannia Shipyards.

Family Day
Lots of live entertainment on show at Family Day events in Richmond

 

Children's Arts Festival

One of the undoubted highlights of the Family Day weekend in Richmond will be the annual Children’s Arts Festival.

However, such is the popularity of the festival, the City of Richmond organizers are advising people to book into the creative classes as soon as possible.

Now in its 10th year, the festival offers a fun-filled day of creative interaction and entertainment and more, with the aforementioned classes apparently already filling up fast.

From the artist-led, hands-on classes to fun and engaging performances in the Sonic Garden, Art Alley and Imagination Stations, there’s something for the whole family.

Watch for pop-up performances throughout the site and bring your appetite for the festival food trucks.

The festival, presented by Lansdowne Centre, takes place Monday, Feb. 12 at the Richmond Cultural Centre, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General festival admission is $5.

General festival admission allows participants to enjoy live performances by Big Easy Funk Ensemble, Kutapira, The Blues Berries, Magic 2 Go, Circus West Ruffle Redbird and more.

Family Day
Parents can get into the crafty fun with their kids on Family Day

There will be Red Path Hoop Dancing, featuring James Jones and performances by world yo-yo champion Harrison Lee.

Kids can also literally Run Away and Join the Circus in a special performance by Circus West in the festival’s Imagination Playground and participants can also roll their sleeves up at the festival’s numerous Imagination Stations and Visit the Once upon a Time Zone for storytelling and more activities.

Registration is required for all Creativity Classes and the $15 fee includes general admission. Register through Richmond.ca/Register or by calling the Registration Call Centre at 604-276-4300.

New to the festival this year will be a cardboard challenge inspired from a documentary film, Caine’s Arcade that featured a cardboard arcade created by a 9-year-old in East Los Angeles.

Festival participants can create their own arcade games from cardboard and other recycled material.

There will be a sneak preview event at Lansdowne Centre on Saturday, Feb. 3 from noon to 3 p.m. including a mini arcade atmosphere with music and balloons. The top 10 games from the Lansdowne event will be featured at the festival on Family Day.

For more information on all the Family Day weekend activities, visit Richmond.ca/FamilyDay.