Mark your calendars, the 100 Mile Festival of the Arts program is now available for parents and participants to download.
Ginny-Lou Alexander, the president of the 100 Mile Festival of the Arts Society, said she is encouraging all participants of this year's festival to check the program out online. The festival runs from April 28 to May 10 and Alexander doesn't want anyone planning on attending to miss it.
"You have to at least look at it now on our website, 100milefestivalofthearts.ca, because they need to know when they're performing. Parents need to plan to get their children there," Alexander said. "I know it's Spring Break right now but they need to make plans. We had a couple of students last year that missed it totally because their parents didn't know (when it was) and we couldn't contact their teacher."
Alexander said the festival is shaping up well so far, noting they have more entries than they did last year including several first-time participants. They have 131 entries in several different categories including piano, vocal, instrumental, speech arts and dance. Each category will be judged by one of three adjudicators.
The festival begins with piano from April 28 to 30, followed by vocal and speech arts from May 1 to 2, instrumental on May 5 and 6 and dance on May 8. Next to the band instrumental portion of the festival, all performances will take place at Martin Exeter Hall. Alexander said as in previous years the festival will finish off with a showcase performance on Saturday, May 10 at Martin Exeter Hall.
"Audiences are welcome, in fact, we're encouraging people to come and watch portions of the festival because the students need an audience, that's part of performing," Alexander remarked.
There is only one exception to this rule, which is the band portion of the instrumental category. Alexander said this is being held in Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School's band room which does not have enough space for spectators. Admission to the other performances at Martin Exter Hall is open by donation, with all proceeds going to the festival.
Alexander said she is also looking for anyone able to volunteer or sponsor the festival as a patron to get in touch with her over the next month and a half. She can be reached at 250-395-3555.
"We're always looking for new volunteers to help out at the festival either during the festival week or to join the committee. A lot of us are getting kind of long in the tooth," Alexander remarked with a chuckle. "I'm really looking forward to the festival this year."
