The Winnipeg International Children’s Festival began in 1983 at Assiniboine Park. 1,700 people paid to see twenty performing artists supported by 300 volunteers who helped make the Festival a success.
The following six years the Festival was at Kildonan Park, then moved in 1990 to the Forks National Historic Park, where it remains today. Over the years the Festival has grown to over 1,000 volunteers, general admission of more than 40,000 people and a at it’s peak a budget as high as $750,000.In 1995, the WICF took a bold step in redesigning it’s format. We changed from a “pay per view” system to “pay once – see all” format.
This format was widely successful and allowed children to see many more shows than they had in previous years. This format change influenced how the rest of the Festival operates – the Festival is now made up of over 30 acts, held over four days, for a total of approximately 120 performances.Kidsfest has become the premier summer family event in Manitoba and is a leader in the Canadian Children’s Festival community.
Winnipeg Kids Fest 2012
A bunch of balloons. Winnipeg Kids Fest
Manitoba’s Lieutenant Governor, Philip Lee
Jake Chenier at the Winnipeg Kids Fest
Winnipeg Kids Fest opening ceremonies in the big tent
Winnipeg Kids Fest, children with a look of wonder
The Funny Waiter
Fred Penner found a spare child just lying around, and the child found a camera case
A large group of children being happy about something; Winnipeg Kids Fest
Kids Fest Executive Producer Neal Rempel in his fancy golf cart
Some cute kids with face paint, Winnipeg Kids Fest
small critters grabbed out of the swamp water
The Winnipeg Police Force has a mascot! Copper the friendly dog!
Winnipeg Kids Fest Volunteer, slightly abused by kids with painty hands
Kids Art!
Winnipeg Kids Fest at the Forks 2012
Pollock, Riopel, Splatter
Winnipeg Kids Fest
Winnipeg Kids Fest conga line
Ronald McDonald at the Winnipeg Kids Fest
Super cool Spiderman kid
Kids love playing with new technology
Al Simmons and his inflatable hat
Winnipeg Kids Fest, tight rope walking
She taught herself to ride the unicycle, in less than 20 hours
The Winnipeg Art Gallery helps kids make masks at the Kids Fest
Winnipeg Kids Fest, happy hula hoop girl
Winnipeg Kids Fest
Winnipeg Kids Fest, fun with masks
Unintentional Art by Kids
Super cute kids at the Winnipeg Kids Fest
Fred Penner with his adoring fans
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at the Kids Fest
Walking with Dinosaurs, Winnipeg Kids Fest
The rain can’t stop the fun at the Winnipeg Kids Fest
Al Simmons steals his own show
GUSTAVO THE IMPOSSIBILIST at the Winnipeg Kids Fest
Fred Penner and Al Simmons
Al Simmons gets wild on the drums with some coat hangers
The Grand Finale of the Winnipeg Kids Fest
Kids love cupcakes!