For kids, Surrey's new year-round 'SPARK' events to replace annual children's festival

Surrey International Children’s Festival is now history, with the new Surrey SPARK Stages taking its place to “ignite imaginations and make memories” for kids and families in the city. The late-May launch this spring will feature music, theatre, puppets and circus performances at Surrey Arts Centre stages, at a time when the children’s festival would typically be held there and at Bear Creek Park. SPARK Stages events will be planned year-round by Surrey Civic Theatres, which to date has aimed most of its programming at adult audiences. “Following a strategic planning and community engagement process, Surrey SPARK Stages has evolved from what was previously the Surrey International Children’s Festival,” explained Kent Gallie, Surrey’s Manager of Performing Arts. “SPARK programming will focus on performing arts and do more of what the festival did best, present exceptional performances for kids,” he added. “The goal is to expand beyond the three-day kickoff event to provide more opportunities, in more locations on a year-round basis for Surrey residents to access family-focused, professional performing arts that inspire young hearts and minds to greater possibilities.” From May 27-29, the SPARK launch weekend will include a “Light the SPARK!” all-ages dance party in the arts centre lobby…
Read More