Kelowna's Juicy Tips

The Fat Cat Children’s Festival is an annual festival held in Waterfront Park. It turns the whole area into a giant playground where kids can get their faces painted, enjoy kids-focussed entertainment, play on bouncy castles, and generally let loose. You’ll also get to see the Fat Cat Parade on Saturday morning – find out more here.

Magic at the Fat Cat...

The festival’s website explains it this way, “In 1990, the Children’s Festival Society of Kelowna was organized with a mandate to establish high-quality, professionally produced educational summer festival for children in the Central Okanagan. In 2007 the Festival shifted from a summertime, one-day festival to a two-day festival in June for one very big reason: we wanted to ensure the Festival was an opportunity for children and their families from throughout the region to get first-hand knowledge and exposure to the arts and to allow their creativity and imaginations to blossom. This … led to a very successful event in 2008 and 2009 and we are certain this success will grow in 2010.”

Kids fun at Fat Cat!

Performers for the 2010 Festival include such high-energy acts as the Bumbershoot Theatre with their renditions of Broadway tunes from Thoroughly Modern Millie; Dan the Balloon Man (who will “eat a bug” if his balloon creations aren’t the best you’ve ever seen); Will Stroet and his billingual jazz and pop inspired tunes; and the Samba Tribe with their joyful Brazillian dances. For the full schedule, click here and find the link on the lower left hand side of the webpage.

Dancers from the Samba Tribe are joyful.

The other fantastic event for kids that takes place in Kelowna this weekend is the 24-Hour Relay. This high-octane event is held at the Apple Bowl again this year, and involves teams of participants relaying to walk, run, and otherwise move forward on the Apple Bowl’s track for a full 24 hours. Why, you ask? To benefit the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club - and in no small way either. Last year the event raised $175,000 for the charity.

While this event isn’t open to the public, you can bet that you’ll hear the whoops of laughter and encouragement coming from this central site. You might even want to sign up next year! If you are a registered team member, you get to look forward to a full 24 hours of games, barbeques, pancake breakfasts, entertainment, and generally a fantastic time.

Participants will get to take part in a Bocce Tournament, Volleyball Tourament, Scavenger Hunt, and Wacky Competitions (think 3-legged races and sack races) – all family oriented and zany! Best of all, participants get to camp out at the 24-hour long event, keeping them away from household chores and in a world of their own!

It sure looks like it will be an entertaining weekend for all ages. We wish you a weekend filled with lots of laughs for the whole family!