Vancouver Folk Music Festival Fun for Families

Bike Igloo

Chill out in this summer-time igloo built out of recycled bicycle wheels. Our Community Bikes/ Pedal Society has built a unique and amazing fort for kids to hang out in, play in, dream in – and decorate. Come see this amazing structure for yourself!

Clay Play 

Potter Richard Tanaka shows and teaches the basics of working with clay. Drop by and learn techniques like rolling, pinching, and coiling clay. Why not create your own cup, bowl or very artistic sculpture? This is fun for all ages. Saturday & Sunday 10am-Noon

Face Painting

Transform your own face or let one of our talented volunteers change you into a super hero, a fierce animal, a funny clown – or whatever your heart desires.

Paper Making

Discover the absolute magic of making handmade paper.  UBC’s Pulp and Paper Centre will be on site to teach the process of recycling your daily newspaper into pulp fibres, and creating new paper. Join in!

Recycled Crafts

Pop in and try your hand at one of the many craft-making opportunities planned throughout the day. Get your creative juices flowing assembling paper, buttons, egg cartons and yarn into a dragon or other masterpieces. There’s lots to paint and play and do – so stop in often.

Redbird 

Juggling – Stilt Walking
Join Redbird, aka Peter Graham-Gaudreau, as he entertains and conducts mini workshops on juggling and stilt walking throughout the weekend. Check for posted times in the Village.

Redbird – Let’s Make a Song
And then – get ready to rawk with Ruffle Redbird and his interactive improv show, Let’s Make a Song!

Redbird gets you rolling with awesome examples of how hit songs are made. Then he takes your ideas, and together  you create a cool new tune. Then, join Redbird to sing and perform it for everyone!  Check for posted times.

Keys to the Streets

You have seen them around the city, piano’s in the street for anyone who wants to play and share their passion of music with everyone else. Now we have one at our for young folks to play on or maybe sing a duet with mom or dad.

Keys to the Streets, started as a CityStudio student idea in the spring of 2013, returns to the streets  to  bring delight and surprise to Vancouver’s public spaces by providing vibrantly painted pianos for everyone to play. The pianos offer a space for improvisational gatherings, spontaneous connections and celebrations of music.  All Keys to the Streets pianos are painted by local artists and placed in an outdoor public space where community stewards look them after for the summer months. These pianos aim to create a space that makes Vancouver a more vibrant, engaged, and interactive city and help to address the issue of social isolation in Vancouver by providing a space that allows and encourages connections between many demographics, all levels of musical skill, and those that simply listen.

Madskillz Roving Performers 

The fabulous Christa returns with her team of equally magnificent roaming performers, including the always-popular hoopers and spinners. They will entertain and run mini-classes throughout the weekend.

Publik Secrets Musical Playground

Enjoy hands-on instruments made from recycled objects! Drawing inspiration from the whimsical instruments created by inventors such as Harry Partch and the Baschet Brothers, this musical playground enchants the ear with never-before heard sonic arrangements while providing educational insights into the physics of sound! Come play on giant xylophones made out of bicycle parts, an organ fueled by bike pumps, drums and other music-making pieces.

Nylon Zoo

Crawl inside the Nylon Zoo Eco Dome and join in songs and stories with Angela Brown. Hear the interactive story about restoration, replanting and believing in the power of a seed. And when you’re finished, you get to help plant a garden!

Nature Committee