The circus is coming to the 20th annual Children’s Festival in Mission.
The event takes place June 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fraser River Heritage Park, and organizers say it is the largest festival they have ever produced.
“It’s our 20th anniversary and we try to do something themed each year. So we decided we need to go big, so we’re going with circus,” said Nancy Arcand, executive director of the Mission Arts Council, which organizes the festival.
Arcand said the 2016 festival is double the size of anything they’ve done before.
The Vancouver Circus School is coming to the festival and will be setting up a huge aerial display area at the park. Performances include aerial silks, contortionists and more.
“It’s kind of like Cirque du Soleil stuff and Mission has never had anything like that.”
There will also be live entertainment, interactive play stations, toy give-aways, interactive juggling, roving clowns, balloon makers, games, horse acrobatic riders and more.
The Fraser Valley Magic Circle will also be on hand to perform on the main stage.
“It’s non-stop entertainment. There are two stages – the main stage and the circus stage.”
The annual festival has always been a popular event in Mission and Arcand says she knows why.
“It’s a kick-off to the summer. We have established it as one of the first big events of the summer. This leads into the summer of fun,” she said, adding that everyone wants to be a kid now and then.
The Children’s Festival is free to enter but there may be some small charges for select activities.
Parking is by donation.