Arts Alive festival draws thousands annually to Langley City, and art lovers and enthusiasts alike are expected to be back in record numbers later this month.
As the event enters its 27th year, the Downtown Langley Business Association (DLBA) team is investing additional resources this time to make the day more memorable.
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The 2022 Arts Alive festival will focus on kids with multiple activities planned throughout the entire day-long festival. Instead of one, there will be two facepainters, and the bouncy castle and balloon twisters will be replaced with a whole stage of children’s entertainers, said Teri James, the DLBA’s executive director.
“Throughout the day, there will be multiple children’s entertainers on stage… magicians, singers, performers, and dancers,” she said.
James also confirmed this year’s festivities will have “way more” roving entertainment than ever before.
Some of the activities planned include facepainting, live music, visual art, and more.
James said that if the weather cooperates, she expects more than 30,000 people throughout the day.
“That includes people coming and going, of course,” she added.
Her guesstimates are backed by the response she has been getting from the community. The festival has filled all of the spots for vendors. All 136 stalls along Fraser Highway were booked about a month ago.
Though James said DLBA itself is not raising funds for any cause, there will be some non-profits present for fundraising purposes.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Visitors catch local artists in action at Sendall Gardens
Recalling the time she took over the charge of the festival 22 years ago, James said, “it [Arts Alive] was a very small event back then and the festival has just grown over the years – substantially.”
James said the free event allows artists and performers to showcase their talent and offers “awesome” food, music, and entertainment to the community.
The Aug. 20 event will run full day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., between 204th and 206th Streets on Fraser Highway.
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