"It takes a whole village to raise a child." - African proverb

Our Whole Village program ensures that every
visitor can share meaningfully in the Festival experience.

Volunteers Building Community
Hundreds of Calgarians devote their time and energy to making this festival one of the most successful international children's festivals in the world. For volunteer opportunities visit our Volunteer page.

Festival Performances at the Alberta Children's Hospital
Each year, children at the Alberta Children's Hospital have the opportunity to interact with Festival artists through performances and workshops! This year, children will be delighted by a special performance by Gustavo the Impossibilist and partake in a hands-on arts workshop.

The Trickster Project
A CICF and Green Fools Theatre partnership
The Trickster Project is a unique pre-Festival arts program that brings professional physical theatre artists together with young people to develop and create an interactive experience you too can enjoy! Drop by the Olympic Plaza Outdoor Stage and discover the results of this unique theatrical experience presented by 80 Calgary youth.

The Art of Peace Gallery
The Art of Peace Gallery showcases art selected from submissions to The Art of Peace Challenge, a new youth engagement initiative launched by Alberta Children's Services as part of Family Violence Prevention Month. The selections from youth between the ages of 14 and 20 demonstrate artistic works that motivate Albertans to reach out and help those impacted by family violence or bullying. The Art of Peace engages youth, providing them with an opportunity, through art, to take action on family violence and bullying and create change within their communities. Come experience some "art of peace" inside the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts during Festival week. For more information about The Art of Peace Challenge, visit www.familyviolence.gov.ab.ca.

Challenged Children
Shows we recommend for children with hearing, visual or special needs are marked with a symbol. A list of shows can be found on the Festival at a Glance page.

    

Outreach Program
The Outreach program assists economically disadvantaged children to attend the Festival. For more information visit our Outreach page.