Kelowna winter arts festival reaches its peak this weekend

A unique festival has been taking place in Kelowna’s Arts district since mid-January, and it will reach its peak this weekend.

The Living Things Festival debuted on January 11th and has had events pop up steadily throughout the month as the team behind it gears up for the main event. The festival is a creative and artistic event at the Rotary Centre for the Arts that aims to showcase the creative works of students and faculty of the UBCO creative studies program, as well as artists from around the world in a wide array of artistic mediums.

“I really think we need to see the theatre majors and artists in Kelowna,” said event founder and coordinator Neil Cadger. “A lot of the time people don’t have a chance to see the type of work I am bringing in unless they go to the bigger cities,”

From sculptures and animated films to live shows featuring puppetry and mask performances, the Living Things Festival brings a new realm of art and creativity, unlike what locals may have seen before.

“It’s to support the creative studies program, and to provide Kelowna with an inclusive winter festival,” added Cadger. “The theatricality of the puppetry and mask performances can delight both children and adults. When you see an object come to life, it’s magic!”

Not only will there be a number of performances in the RCA and Mary Irwin Theatre, but all over the downtown core and in places you may not expect.

“It’s a sense of not only animating the artwork, but our environment,” said Cadger. “Animating the city and taking the building and turning it into a big event.”

There are a number of free events as well as ticketed performances at the Mary Irwin Theatre. If you're a lover of art, philosophy and enjoy the talent emitted by artists in our area and around the world, this is a great event to attend.

For a full schedule of the weekend’s events, you can head to the Rotary Centre for the Arts website for more information.