The Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival works hard every year to nurture the next generation of blues fans – and this year is no exception.
The festival is once again encouraging families to turn out for the festival on Saturday, Aug. 11 at Deer Lake Park, offering free tickets for children aged 12 and under who attend with a ticketed adult.
Jared Bowles, the Shadbolt Centre’s marketing and sponsorship coordinator, noted that families have always been key to the festival.
Every year, the festival offers a special kids’ zone, which provides entertainment for the small set in the form of a play structure, face painting and the ever-popular cardboard guitar making. The kids’ area is open from 1 to 7 p.m., with guitar making between 1 and 6 p.m.
(Note that no alcohol is allowed in the children’s area, although the rest of the site is licensed.)
Kids and their parents can also easily stay fed and hydrated, with a variety of food trucks on site and plenty of water stations to refill water bottles. (Outside food and beverages, other than commercially sealed plastic water bottles, are not permitted.)
And, yes, the ever-important question for parents of small children: Toilets are readily available as there will be portable washrooms around the site.
As with everything, the key to a good day with kids means coming prepared.
So be sure to pack the hats and sunscreen (or, if the weather looks less than cooperative, rain ponchos for all), and bring your blankets and pillows so that the little folk can tuck in on the grass as the sun goes down and headliner Nathaniel Rateliff entertains the crowds until 10 p.m.
Earplugs are also a good idea for young ears.
Note: Although kids’ tickets are free, you do have to book them ahead. Call the festival box office at 604-205-3000 to reserve yours.
Find out everything you want to know at www.burnabybluesfestival.com.
