Children can strap on their creative thinking caps to get ready for the Two Rivers Gallery 21st annual BMO KidzArt Dayz Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There are so many activities children of all ages can participate in that the Two Rivers is overflowing into the Civic Plaza for this free event.
The event is open to everyone - and families, day care groups and summer camps are invited to be creative, get messy, mold with clay, paint, colour, make masks, crazy hats and contribute to collective public art pieces that will change and grow over time.
Last year 5,000 people attended and more are expected on the weekend.
"It keeps getting better each year," said Carolyn Holmes, Two Rivers gallery public programs manager.
This year there is a mural and public art project.
"The mural will be on the burgundy wall behind the fountain at Civic Plaza and people can cut shapes out of sticky vinyl and add it to the wall," said Holmes.
"Little people can do a little shape and older kids and adults can get really intricate designs that people can cut out to tell a story and put on the wall to create a Vinyl Mosaic. It's exciting for us because we don't know what it will look like."
There are three dimensional art making opportunities like the Lumber Jungle, which is always popular - all kinds of pieces of wood, hammering and nailing - building whatever you want, said Holmes.
"Becky Colthorp, KidzArt Dayz co-ordinator, has designed a new activity where the summer students have been spray painting thousands of tin cans," said Holmes. "So the kids will be drawing, colouring and adding little wax sticks to the cans to turn them into jars for pencils or maybe little flower pots and things like that."
There is also a sculpture kit that could be likened to a big Tinker Toy set, where children can put pieces together and see how it takes shape, Holmes added.
There is also a chance to try wood etching using a wood-burning kit. This activity is recommended for children 10 years and older and careful supervision by parents is advised.
"Children can sit down and spend a long time etching a design into wood," said Holmes.
There are several community groups that will join in the days' fun.
The Native Friendship Centre is doing a couple of activities, Huble Homestead will do a traditional craft and Exploration Place will do some kind of science-based experimentation with art. The Canadian Cancer Society will join the jewelry making station by adding some sun-sensitive beads people can use to create their wearable art.
"There's two full days of activities, people can bring a picnic or visit the concession to make a full day of it," said Holmes. "Some people will attend both days because they won't get to everything they want to do."
There's something for all ages.
"Two-year-olds can paint or put their fingers in clay and make patterns but also when you're 12 and 13 you can make something more significant out of clay and really work it at for longer, or do the wood burning and all kinds of things," said Holmes.
"This event is for everybody to create together, enjoy time together with friends and family and we like to think everyone is creative so we're encouraging all of that."
For more information visit www.tworiversartgallery.com or call 250-614-7800.
