Sun Peaks is gearing up for a vibrant weekend of art, music and hands-on creativity as the third annual CREATE! Festival returns from Sept. 5-7. Hosted by ArtZone Sun Peaks, event offers a wide array of free activities blending local talent with community engagement.
“We are creating a vibrant weekend of creativity, connection and community,” ArtZone’s admin and event coordinator Janice Hoppenreys said. “Our aim is to bring together various art aspects like live music, dance, fiber arts, visual arts, hands-on workshops and family-friendly activities.”
Running across three days, the CREATE! Festival offers something for everyone, from evening concerts and daytime workshops to visual art exhibitions and interactive demonstrations. Many of the events are free of charge, encouraging wide participation from locals and visitors alike.
The idea for the festival was first sparked two years ago by ArtZone, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting local artists and expanding access to arts and culture in Sun Peaks.
“We felt that hosting a three-day event like CREATE! was a way that we can give back to the community and provide an exciting weekend where people can participate in a variety of different arts modalities,” Hoppenreys said.
While the full weekend promises a rich tapestry of creative offerings, one highlight the organizers are particularly excited about is the Saturday afternoon performance by Beyond Brass, a big band group that will bring high-energy swing, jazz, funk, Motown and soul to ArtZone.
“They’ll have Lindy in the Loops coming as well… a swing dance club in Kamloops. They will be doing some dance lessons and demonstrations, so it’s going to be really high energy and just a really fun afternoon.”
With so much planned, the organizers are eager to welcome guests into what they call the “art hub.”
“Our art hub will come alive with a variety of different activities and events throughout the weekend and we’re really excited to share this with the community.”
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