2024 International Children's Festival of the Arts

For over four decades, the International Children’s Festival of the Arts has transported kids to other worlds and provided them with countless awe-inspiring experiences! Mark your calendars for May 30 – June 2 and come tap into the power of creativity!

Feature Performances | $10-$18/ticket

This year’s festival will host 7 exciting feature performances from across Canada, the United States and Ireland! All performances are available at various times throughout Festival, making it easy to fit into your schedule and make it to multiple shows.

The Libravian (Li-BRAVE-ian) Lynn, a loveable librarian finds herself needing to give a tour of the library. But Lynn has a fear of public speaking! With no choice but to move forward, Lynn turns to books and personal stories of growing up in the circus to help push past her fears. Bringing contemporary Irish authors to children in a new and creative way, The Libravian tackles themes like bullying, facing your fears and believing in yourself. This story of courage and self-love inspires children to take risks, love who they are and step into their own bravery!
Dino-Light When a friendly dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. This visually amazing performance blends puppetry, technology and dance, and has been praised by audiences the world over.
The Bighetty & Bighetty Puppet Show Hailing from Pukatawagen, Manitoba, brothers Andrew, Kelsey, Daniel and Ken are the mastermind puppeteers behind four loveable, Indigenous puppets named Baptiste, Michel, Marcel and The Chief! Growing up loving The Muppets and Fraggle Rock but missing seeing themselves reflected in the puppets they enjoyed, the brothers bring their unique characters to life with stories that resonate with traditional Cree experiences. Their spontaneous shows interweave Cree and English to keep audiences engaged and involved.
Grimmz Fairy Tales Fable dance-pop sensations Jay and Will Grimmz are known not just for their hip-hop sounds, but also for the stories they tell through music and off-the-chart theatrical performances. With a modern spin on The Brothers Grimm, Jay and Will delight and entertain audiences through songs like “Snow White and the Seven Shawties” and “Break, Cinderella, Break!”
Koo Koo Need we say more? Back by popular demand, Koo Koo is a dance party for the senses. Their comedic songs like “All I Eat is Pizza” and “Everybody Poops” have everybody on their feet in this raucous, hyper-active atmosphere you must see to believe!
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical St. Albert Children’s Theatre is back with this thoughtful, all-ages performance that follows Lily Polkadot, an 8-year-old who just moved to the “squares only” small town of Rockaway. Inspired by the events of The Little Rock Nine, Polkadots serves as a history lesson for children, reminding us that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts.
Tricoter A word that means “knitting” in French, this engaging performance re-creates the spirit of a knitting circle. Geared towards babies and toddlers, a dancer winds an unwinds through and around the audience as a violinist plays. As the dancer moves, the yarn gets tangled in a knot of irresistible colours, capturing the imagination of the show’s young audience.

Paid Activities | $8/activity

The International Children’s Festival of the Arts hosts a wide variety of engaging activities for children and families to enjoy. This year, activities are focused on learning about plants and nature, designing your own artwork, puppeteering, hula hooping, music-making, juggling, story-telling and Indigenous crafting. It’s the perfect way to get creative and try something new. See the full selection and schedule here.

Toddler Town | $10/all day admission

For the wee ones, the playful and interactive Toddler Town will allow them to join the hands-on fun. Admission is just $10 for the day and will allow children 12 months to 4 years to move at their own pace through storytelling activities, musical performances, crafts, sensory bin play and an active fun zone. Admission for parents and babies under 12 months is free.

Festival After Hours | $20, Thirsty Rooster Eatery & Bar

Join our grown-ups only Festival After Hours party to eat, drink and be merry while enjoying some incredible Festival performers in a whole new light! Featuring gut-splitting performances from Ingrid Hansen of SNAFU and Washboard Hank’s nighttime sing-along, grown up style!

Free Things to Do at the International Children’s Festival of the Arts

As you make your way between feature performances and paid activities, remember to check out the selection of free family fun including the Open Art Studio, Maze Craze, or entertainment on the Outdoor Stage. Find roving artists, navigate a laser field, build a skyscraper or mountain range, learn coding, explore the lifecycle of a butterfly, become an eco warrior, get your hair painted or (temporarily) tatted, travel back in time, or learn about important animals in Indigenous cultures. There is no admission fee to enter the Festival site and explore all the wonderful things it has to offer!

Make the most of it with a Performance Plus Pass | $33 each (Kids & Adults)

The best way to experience all the fun at the International Children’s Festival of the Arts is with a Performance Plus Pass. For just $33 per wristband, you will get access to ONE Feature Performance of your choice and UNLIMITED access to all paid activities all weekend long.

Public Tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.stalbert.ca or in person through the Arden Theatre Box Office, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Make sure to visit the festival website, or give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest announcements!