Family Fest is a free family literacy festival held in Williams Lake every February.
It started many years ago at the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre. The event quickly grew so popular that it had to be relocated to the Marie Sharpe School gym.
The Family Fest coming up this Sunday is made possible through strong community partnerships that focus on early childhood development, education and lifelong learning.
Every child receives at least one new book to take home and can take part in a variety of fun, messy and exciting activities.
Families are able to find out about the many community resources available for young children.
The Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society will be joining in the event this year and as part of their Waste Wise campaign will be giving away free skates to those in need.
Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy is proud to host this event and work with all the community partners involved: Success by 6, Daybreak Rotary, School District 27 and Strong Start, Children First, Early Childhood Development Network, Cariboo Regional District Library Williams Lake, Pregnancy Outreach Program, Interior Health – Public Nurses, Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre Association, Subway, The Hearth Restaurant, Cool Clear Water, The Lionesses, Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society, Scout Island, Boys and Girls Club and many amazing event day volunteers.
The range of activities in the gym is quite amazing, including puppet shows, music, face painting, crafts and storytelling.
There are free snacks and refreshments, door prizes and much more.
Kirsten Stark is the event coordinator and this is her third Family Fest event.
“I am so excited about this year’s event as we have several new community partners involved and great selection of activities,” Stark says. “If our nice weather continues we might be able to have some outdoor fun too, so be sure to wrap up warm.”
Family Fest 2014 takes place this Sunday, Feb. 2 at Marie Sharpe elementary gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be games, crafts, puppet shows, music, free books and face painting, snacks, refreshments, door prizes and more. It’s all free and everyone is invited to bring gently used books to swap.
For more information and to see photos from past events, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/CaribooChilcotinPartnersforLiteracy.