Arts Alive has long put aside space for potential future artists – children.
This year, the space is expanding considerably to serve the increased number of kids who came to sample last year’s events with their parents.
“Due to public demand, we decided to increase the children’s venue,” said Teri James, head of the Downtown Langley Business Association.
The venue has moved west, to the parking lot between the cupcake store and the pilates studio near the start of Fraser Highway’s one-way section.
A number of new events and entertainments have been added, including live Celtic music.
“We were wanting to give the kids some lively music to listen to,” said James.
Kids can get their faces painted, and there will be non-musical entertainment in the form of Scruffles the Clown, a master of the art of balloon animals – and balloon everything else. Lately he’s been making ballon versions of the minions from the Despicable Me series of films.
While they’re listening, there will be larger bouncy castles to jump around in – the castles were so popular last year there were lineups – meeting with Princess Elsa from Disney’s Frozen, and taking part in numerous crafts.
James said there will be painting, paper bag hats, and magical murals.
There will also be a sizeable area for sidewalk chalk drawing.
“The kids get to be their own little Picassos,” said James.
Children do have to be supervised by their parents while they are in the kids entertainment area.
Last year, there were between 400 and 500 children at Arts Alive, and this year, the festival is planning for up to 1,000.