Third Annual Winterfest Weekend Highlights New Richmond Winter Festival of the Arts
January 26, 2009
Richmond’s third annual Winterfest Weekend, taking place February 14 and 15, has a new look. For the first time, this free jam-packed, musical and magical weekend is moving to the Richmond Olympic Oval and it is now part of the six-week long inaugural Winter Festival of the Arts. The festival runs February 1 to March 15, 2009 with dozens of arts and cultural events across Richmond.
The first annual Richmond Winter Festival of the Arts is multidisciplinary, multicultural and in a multitude of venues. Experience classical music by internationally renowned musicians or be riveted by a tongue-in-cheek mystery at the Gateway Theatre. Discover Asian film gems, enjoy top-calibre, live theatre and music, or drop by the studio gallery of one of Richmond’s acclaimed visual artists.
A centrepiece of this year’s calendar is the first annual Children’s Arts Festival on Thursday and Friday, February 19 and 20 at the Richmond Cultural Centre. This unique festival offers elementary school kids the opportunity to be hands-on with the Vancouver Theatre Sports League and the Tickle Trunk Players, try Taiko and African drumming, get on stage with Gateway Academy actors, learn to spin records with local DJ’s, and much more.
From traditional to cutting-edge, serious to over-the-top, the Richmond Winter Festival of the Arts has it all. Visit www.richmondwinterfestival.ca for a complete listing of events.
Presented by Coast Capital Savings, this year’s Winterfest Weekend will feature 16 hours of free family fun both inside and outside of the newly opened Richmond Olympic Oval.
On Saturday, February 14, the focus is on music with continuous entertainment from noon to 9 p.m. on the Petro-Canada Stage, including performers by up and coming Juno-nominated rockers the Brandon Paris Band and the hot bluegrass licks of Vancouver’s Redgrass. Richmond performers will also be front and centre including young country sensation Shanna Lynn, multi-talented singer-songwriter Cherelle Jardine, and the 600-member Children’s Choir and Orchestra of the Richmond School District.
On Sunday, February 15, magic takes centre stage with a special performance by world-renowned illusionist Julianna Chen headlining a visual spectacle from the heart-stopping showmanship of Firebelly to the high-energy music and dance of Richmond’s own Showstoppers and Richmond Dance Academy.
Other highlights include an ice carving display, fine arts exhibition, children’s parade, arts and crafts, free public skating on the 400-metre Olympic Oval track, amazing interactive sport simulations presented by BC Lotteries, exclusive Olympic merchandise for sale, face painting, balloon artists and much more.
Free parking for Winterfest Weekend will be provided by WorkSafe BC at their Richmond location at 6951 Westminster Highway. Traffic controls will be in place on event days to assist in directing patrons to available parking.
For a complete schedule and event details visit www.richmondwinterfestival.ca
