Just because it's a children's festival, doesn't mean it's 'dumbed down' entertainment, says Kim Smythe.
He's talking about the 91原创 Island Children's Festival taking place in downtown Nanaimo, May 10 to 13.
"People say all the time 'they don't know what they're missing,'" Smythe, the festival's executive director said. "It's top quality entertainment for all ages."
This is the seventh annual festival, featuring six mainstage performances and six workshops, street entertainers and more. The festival has expanded greatly over the years, Smythe said.
"It's grown hugely," he said. "Last year we estimated about 20,000 kids and family members through over the four days. Depending on weather we'll do that again this year."
The first three days of the festival aren't dependent on the weather because they're filled with school children on field trips. The family day, Saturday, is the one that relies on good weather, he said.
Schools, predominantly elementary, sign up for the performances for field trips.
There are about 200 schools from across the Island and the Lower Mainland attending, as well as homeschoolers, preschool students and more. Smythe said this year there are more acts aimed at older students and teachers are starting to understand the festival isn't just for the young ones. One highlight is the Tiny Ninja Theatre act from New York doing a presentation of Hamlet. The little plastic action figures act out the classic play.
"They've really caught on to this," Smythe said. "It's a great way to get past the complexity of Shakespeare."
Le Groupe Swing, a French 91原创 techno and traditional music act, is another act aimed at older students. They're being marketed to French teachers. Skookum Cirque, an act similar to Cirque du Soleil, performs at trade shows, festivals and events for people of all ages. They are one of the headlining acts this year.
"I think we'll have a lot of older kids around this year," Smythe said. "Once you start to point out the educational value they express, it tends to resonate more with teachers."
Smythe said the festival is 'education through entertainment' and helps fill the gap students are experiencing in schools due to cutbacks to the arts.
"It's not a matter of bringing in something cute for kids that will entertain them and divert them for 45 minutes," he said. "It's something that gives them a lesson and puts the arts into some perspective for them. And by doing it with international artists, we're also teaching lessons in tolerance and understanding cultures you're not exposed to."
This year the festival is expanding to two plazas, with events occurring in Pioneer Waterfront Plaza and Harbourfront Plaza downtown. The featured shows will take place at the Port Theatre, the festival tent at Pioneer Plaza and St. Paul's Church Hall. Outdoor events will include workshops, street entertainers and activities .
At McGregor Park, across the street from the Port Theatre, will be Portland's Taiko drums, which Smythe said had to be far away from everything else for a reason.
"We need to put them as far away from everything as possible because they make so much noise," he said.
Tickets for Saturday's Port Theatre events are $12 and $16 (including site admission for the day.) Phone the festival office at 754-3378 for more information or visit www.childrensfestival.com.