The Fat Cat Children’s Festival returns this weekend for its 29th year of family fun, but this also means Waterfront Park will experience disruptions and closures over the weekend.
Park interruptions may be experienced Friday for event preparation beginning around 7 a.m. Waterfront Park will open to ticket holders at 4:30 p.m. through to Saturday evening around 8 p.m.
To celebrate its 29th year, more than 40 activity stations will be set up in the Silver Springs Concrete Activity Zone on Saturday.
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“The Fat Cat Children’s Festival continues to evolve and grow but the underlying focus remains: to bring families and the community together,” Interior Savings CEO Kathy Conway said.
“It’s a local celebration that is not only fun but also provides opportunities for families to learn, connect and broaden their horizons,” the event’s title sponsor representative said.
Local DJ KrispyKolt, Evan the Juggler, Trixie the Clown and Teddy and Bella will be performing over the course of the weekend and many will also participate in the walking parade that kicks off the event at 12:45 p.m.
The Okanagan Song and an Eagle Dance by Sylix dancer and performance artist, Cori Derickson, will open Saturday’s festivities.
READ MORE: Kelowna’s Fat Cat Children’s Festival gearing up for its 28th year
“We have been blown away by the community’s interest in being part of the festival. We have many activities returning and new ones added to the event for the first time,” festival co-director Karma Lacoff said.
Vase-making workshops will be offered by Silver Springs Concrete over the course of the weekend, and children will be able to make their own concrete keepsakes, including handprints. The library will host an interactive button-making lesson and the Kelowna Museum Society will explore local insects.
To accommodate for the event, the Dolphins Parking Lot will be closed from Friday at 7 a.m. until Saturday night at 8 p.m. On-street parking restrictions on Water Street will also be in effect.
To reduce traffic congestion, City of Kelowna staff recommend alternative transportation options, such as biking, walking or carpooling.