UPDATE: June 12

Video: Douglas Farrow.

Children at the annual Fat Cat Children鈥檚 Festival get their hands dirty with clay, paint and sand as they make their way around the booths.

Elementary school children made their way to the 27th annual event, Friday at Waterfront Park.

One teacher from Christian Heritage School had the joy of seeing her students grow up and attend the festival.

She has been attending for the past seven years.

鈥淭hey love it, there are so many different stations and lots of learning experiences too with the sciences and learning about other cultures,鈥� said teacher Sherly Gom.

Her favourite part is allowing the students to explore new things.

The weather has been better than previous years, she said, and she enjoys seeing the kids grow up.

鈥淓ach stage of life is so different, all the things they can do, they鈥檙e more independent now, whereas in Grade 1 you鈥檙e a teacher, you鈥檙e like a mom or a grandma,鈥� she said.

Throughout Friday and Saturday, artist director Dorothee Birker said she expects to see around 10,000 people.

鈥淭here鈥檚 somebody that has the opportunity with their class to work with clay. Families may not be able to afford to do that,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 interactive learning going on.鈥�

Students visited the festival for a day of clay making, art workshops, hula hooping, face painting and more. The festival continues Saturday, June 9 with a parade at 10 a.m. on Richter and Cawston.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $5 a person or $15 for a family of four.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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