Organizers ready to welcome sunny children’s festival

The Nutrien Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan is nearly set for its 31st edition at Rotary Park.

Often marred by heavy rainfall, organizers are excited at the prospect of sunshine for the four-day festival that runs from Saturday to Tuesday.

Marketing director Mandy Pravda thinks the festival has an unfair reputation of always being held during a rainstorm.

“We are the first festival of the year. It is somewhat in spring still,” Pravda said as she helped set up the grounds with a team of volunteers. “But I recall two years ago we had four straight days of beautiful hot sun, and it made for a very warm festival.”

Tickets to the festival are $10 daily for any show and any activity.

Pravda said that brief storms have left long-lasting impressions on festival-goers.

“Being over the course of four days, if it only rains for an afternoon, people do tend to remember that more than the sun being out,” she said.

All the classics are back. The Nutrien Fossil Find, which allows children to search and look for shark’s teeth and seashells, is the usual fan favourite.

Seed Survivor is another display that gets plenty of attention. It teaches kids all about the various seeds, crops and farms in Saskatchewan before they leave with a sunflower of their own.

A variety of performers and artists from all over the world will also arrive in Saskatoon to entertain the crowds at the city’s first major festival of the spring and summer months.

“It wouldn’t happen without the community,” she said. “Bring a blanket, bring a chair and watch some great entertainment.”