Oakville Children's Festival cancelled

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the town’s commitment to slowing the spread of the virus, the Oakville Children’s Festival originally scheduled for August 8 at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to bringing the festival back in 2021.

Treehouse TV royalty and Juno Award winners Splash’N Boots headlined the 2019 Oakville Children’s Festival on Saturday, August 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC). Families danceed and sang along to hits like Tilly the Tadpole, Who Put the Beat in my Shoes and Antelopes Love Cantaloupes. Splash'N Boots won the 2019 Juno for Children's Album of the Year.

Juno Award-winning singer songwriter Norman Foote also hit the stage with his unique blend of music that has be entertaining crowds for almost 30 years.

Visit our Facebook page to see photos from the event.

Performing duo Splash'N Boots

Active and creative experiences throughout the park complemented live performances

Other popular festival performances included the Twisted Ones Balloon Show, the Lumberjack Show, Zoosemobile, stunt ventriloquist Tim Holland, the Ben Show with Ben Burland, CanSpin Awards Hooper of the Year Isabella Hoops, and Ascension Harjo, Junior World Champion Indigenous Hoop Dancer. Families also enjoyed Oakville Public Library storytimes and the Friends of the Oakville Public Library Book Sale.

Guests experienced hands-on activities and interactive shows including the City Parent Scavenger Hunt, art and building workshops, Fire Safety Zone, seedling plantings, sports zone, summer camp experience, face painting, indoor swimming, free samples, and more!

Performer Norman Foote will appear at the Oakville Children's Festival

Zoosemobile

Stunt ventriloquist Tim Holland

CanSpin Awards Hooper of the Year Isabella Hoops

Fun for all ages and abilities!

Visitors enjoyed fun hands-on activities and interactive shows including Fire Safety Zone, City Parent Scavenger Hunt, Friends of Oakville Public Library Book Sale, art and building workshops, seedling plantings, dance groups, recreation, sports and science activities, face painting, free indoor swimming, and more.

Following is a list of participating groups from the 2019 Oakville Children's Festival:

Academy of Music
Allegro School of Dance
Allstate Insurance Oakville Agency
Aspects of Dance
Balletomane Inc.
Centre for Education & Training
CheerForce Inc.
Cheestrings
City Parent
COGECO
Community Living Burlington
Dar Foundation
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development
E2 Young Engineers of Oakville
Farm Boy

Film.ca Cinemas
Funkey Kids
Halton Baby-Friendly Initiative
Halton Environmental Network
Idea Lab Kids East Oakville
JVK Seeds
Knowledge First Financial
Kidsopolis
Lakeside Volleyball
Mind Centric
Mitara Toys & Stuff
Morningstar Taekwon-Do
My Gym Oakville
Oakville Galleries
Oakvillegreen Conservation Association

Optimist Club of Oakville
Oakville Parent-Child Centre
Oakville Soccer Club
Par-T-Perfect
Pirate Life
Raptors 905
Revera Retirement Living Churchill Place
Salsa Babies
Scouts of Oakville
SickKids Caliper Project
Speckles Art Studio
Springfree Trampoline
Sylvan Learning of Oakville
Toraguchi Martial Arts
Toronto Pearson

Road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect.

Enjoy the free Oakville Transit shuttle service from the Bronte GO Station or cycle and take advantage of the free bike parking on site.

Avoid congestion by taking the free shuttle from Bronte GO station to Queen Elizabeth Park. Buses will depart Bronte GO (west-end bus loop) station approximately every 5 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to and from the festival. The last shuttle will leave the festival at 4:30 p.m. Schedule subject to change.

All shuttles are accessible, wheelchair and stroller-friendly.

A free bike corral will be available to park your bike safely if you choose to ride to the festival.

Please note: Vehicle parking is not available on site and on-street parking restrictions will be enforced throughout the neighbourhood. Please allow access for emergency vehicles.

Working in partnership to deliver a towards zero waste festival!

We have eliminated our printed programs, requested that our vendors provide biodegradable plates and utensils, and banned the sale of water bottles and distribution of unsustainable products on site.

A special thanks to the Halton Environmental Network (HEN) volunteer waste diversion team. At the 2019 festival, HEN diverted 15 properly sorted carts of recycling and compost from landfill. Blue Box and Green Cart collection is generously provided by Halton Region.

Here's what you can do to help:

Pack a litterless lunch and snacks using reusable storage containers.
Bring a reusable water bottle and fill up at our water stations.
Help the Green Team by sorting recyclables, organics and garbage into the correct bins. Or take your food packaging home with you.
Ride your bike and park in our free, monitored bike corral.
Carpool to the Bronte GO Station and take the free Oakville Transit shuttle!

Visit the booth on site or the Halton Environmental Network or Halton Region websites for more information.

A number of the region's best food trucks and vendors provide meals, refreshments and special treats throughout the day.

For our cash-only vendors, there is an ATM on site.

We've partnered with the Halton Environmental Network and Halton Region to help protect and sustain our environment! We request that vendors provide biodegradable plates and utensils, and banned the sale of water bottles on site.

Prefer to bring your own lunch?

Guests are encouraged to bring a litterless lunch and a reusable bottle for use at the festival water stations.

Click on the Zero Waste heading for more information.

Festival Tips

Ride your bike! Free bike parking corral on site.
Bring sunscreen, a blanket and refillable water bottle for use at our free water stations.
Check out our indoor cooling stations and take a break from the sun.
Pack a picnic lunch and snacks or purchase food on site. ATM available on site.
Take a photo of your child with the Halton Regional Police Service Cruiser when you arrive.
Bring your swimsuit and enjoy free swims in the QEP pool. Capacity restrictions apply and wristbands are required. First-come, first-served at the pool starting at 9:30 a.m.
We are committed to providing smoke-free outdoor spaces where kids play.
We encourage visitors to leave pets at home.
There is no parking on site. On-street parking is extremely limited.
Please allow access for emergency vehicles and take the free shuttle from Bronte GO.

Questions?

For general inquiries about the Oakville Children's Festival, please email events@oakville.ca

Local community groups and organizations interested in participating at this year's festival, please email daniel.ridsdale@oakville.ca

Sponsorship inquiries can be sent to Robin Howarth, Festival Co-Chair at robin.howarth@oakville.ca

Media and on-site promotional inquiries can be sent to Janine Ivings, Sponsorship and Marketing Supervisor at janine.ivings@oakville.ca

Advertising inquiries for City Parent Scavenger Hunt and Loot Bag can be sent to Nancy Gibson, City Parent at ngibson@starmetrolandmedia.com

Smile!

You may be photographed at this event. To celebrate the Oakville Children's Festival, photographers and videographers will be capturing festival events and activities.

These photos/videos may be used in future Town of Oakville publications, promotional marketing collateral, website, social media, advertising, etc., without compensation. Have fun and share your festival experience.