Vancouver Children's Festival

Some of the best summer days happen when you can just get up and go. Whether it’s a park hang, beach day, or a full day out with the kids, having a few go-to essentials on hand makes everything easier. We’ve partnered with @costco_canada to share a quick guide on the summer staples families actually use, from snacks to sun protection to easy meal options. Click the profile link and head to NEWS to read it now. And because water days are a big part of summer, we’re giving away 2 x Paddle Pals with Costco to help make those moments even easier! Win 2 x Paddle Pals (total value $30)! To enter: Follow @vankidsfest and @costco_canada Like this post Comment “summertime” below! 📅 Contest closes: Wednesday, May 20 at 12 PM 🏆 Winner will be contacted via DM *Giveaway open to Lower Mainland residents. Prize must be accepted as awarded. No substitutions or exchanges. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram.

We’ve teamed up with Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) to give one lucky family an under-the-sea double feature this summer! 🌊 Win a Family 4-Pack of Tickets* to: 🫧 Opening Night of Doodle POP on Monday, May 25 at 6:30 PM (Waterfront Theatre) 🧜‍♀️ Theatre Under the Stars’ Disney’s The Little Mermaid HOW TO ENTER: 1) Follow @vankidsfest and @tutsvancouver 2) Like this post 3) Tag a friend you’d bring! (Each tag = extra entry!) 📅 Contest closes: May 21 at 12 PM 🏆 Winner announced: May 21 ℹ️ ABOUT @vankidsfest : Head down to Granville Island for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, May 25–31. Enjoy theatre, music, dance, and hands-on activities for all ages. Every show ticket includes access to the Activity Village. About Doodle POP: A mischievous duo starts doodling… and suddenly a whole underwater world comes to life. Follow their sea adventure with a tiny turtle in this playful, non-verbal show filled with live music, animation, and imagination. Co-presented with Carousel Theatre for Young People. ℹ️ ABOUT @tutsvancouver : A beloved Vancouver summer tradition, Theatre Under the Stars brings musical theatre to life at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl—perfect for a night out with the whole family. About Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Ariel dreams of life beyond the sea and makes a risky deal to become human. With unforgettable songs and colourful characters, this stage adaptation brings the beloved underwater story to life for all ages. Giveaway closes at 12:00 PM PST on May 21. Winner will be contacted via Instagram DM from @vankidsfest only. Doodle POP tickets are valid for the specified performance only (May 25 at 6:30 PM for Doodle POP). No substitutions. Travel not included. Prize must be claimed within 24 hours.

A full day at the Festival is a lot of fun…and staying sun smart helps you enjoy more of it. A few simple things like finding shade, staying hydrated, and throwing on a hat can go a long way in keeping everyone comfortable and the day going strong. We’ve teamed up with Sun Safe BC to share a practical, parent-friendly guide to doing a full day at the Vancouver International Children's Festival without burning out. Think pacing your day, planning for shade, and keeping things easy as you go. Click the profile link and scroll down to NEWS to read the guide. Make sure to swing by Sun Safe BC in the Activity Village on the weekend for Sun Smart Fun—a quick, easy way to reset, pick up free sunscreen, and keep the day going! #sunsafebc #KidsFest #VanKidsFest #bccancerfoundation #Vancouver #FamilyFun

We understand the importance of ensuring everyone can fully engage with the arts, which is why we want people to know when shows are accessible to them. These shows are Blind and low-vision friendly shows: Baby Space Opera The Merry Marching Band* The Pursuit: 1, 2, 3 let’s go, let’s keep going! Glamily Will and Seeka: Friends with Everyone Haida and Squamish Stories & Songs Archipelago Will’s Jams: My Best Friends *The Merry Marching Band will be audio described on Sunday, May 31 with a pre-show touch tour at 2pm. To book a spot email [email protected] Learn more about our accessible offerings: https://www.childrensfestival.ca/accessibility/ #VanKidsFest #Accessibility #AccessibilityMatters

Me & The Forest is putting down deeper roots…EXTENDED TO JUNE 14!! 🌲 A giant 13-foot-tall puppet. Wireless headphones. Theatre like you’ve never seen it before. Step into an unforgettable world where ancient trees speak, giant puppets come to life, and nature invites you into conversation. • Guided by immersive audio through wireless headphones • Surrounded by towering puppets and fellow explorers • A one-of-a-kind interactive experience for curious minds of all ages Are you ready to speak to the trees? Don’t miss this all-ages adventure co-produced by award-winning @bocadellupo x @artstagesan & presented by the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Me & The Forest Ron Basford Park Amphitheatre Extended performances until June 14 Visit showpass.com/me-the-forest for tix or click the profile link 📸 @bocadellupo

False Creek Ferries AKA Vancouver’s cherry on top! #vancouver #familyfriendly #travelwithkids ⛴️ Kids discounted + free if 2 or younger! ⛴️ Family friendly stops at Granville Island, Yaletown, and Science World ⛴️ Strollers welcome as long as they fit or can be folded up! Drivers will help when it’s reasonable ⛴️ Whimsy, Exploration, Sight seeing GALORE ⛴️ Little Blue Ferries 🤌 💕✨🚽🐣Hi, I’m Haylie — a Vancouver-based stay-at-home mom documenting life on the go with my little one. We’re a cross-border family always up for an adventure, whether that’s cafe hopping around Vancouver, road tripping down to the US, or figuring out how to fly with a baby without losing our minds. I share the real side of motherhood adventures — from navigating border crossings with a baby and surviving time zone changes, to hunting down the best stroller-friendly, breastfeeding-friendly coffee shops where you can actually enjoy a latte with your little one. If you’ve ever Googled “diaper bag essentials” at 2am or stressed about passport photos for a baby, you’re my people. Here you’ll find honest mom travel tips, baby travel gear reviews, family-friendly cafe recommendations, and all the travel hacks I wish someone had told me before our first trip. I believe exploring with kids doesn’t have to be stressful — just a little more creative. Coffee lover. Wanderlust with kids enthusiast. Perpetually packing snacks.

🎪 The Activity Village: where the fun doesn’t stop! From hands-on crafts to cultural pavilions, face painting, circus arts, and space to just run, play, and explore, the Activity Village is where kids can spend hours being creative (and burning off that energy) during Festival week. New this year: 🇰🇷 Korean Arts Tent 🇵🇭 Kultura Kubo Filipino Arts Tent 🛒 Costco Super Savings Playground (Fri–Sun) ☀️ Sun Smart Fun (Sat–Sun) Plus all your favourites are back, including the Odlum Brown Activity Station, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Activity Zone, Indigenous Arts, the African Pavilion, Spin Art, Circus Arts, the Scavenger Hunt, Face Painting, and more. Know before you go: • Everyone needs a wristband to enter the Activity Village • Show tickets include a wristband • Activity Village–only wristbands are available on-site for $8 Hours: Tuesday–Friday: 9:30am–2:30pm* Saturday: 10:30am–6:00pm Sunday: 10:30am–5:00pm Come for a show… stay for the day! Link in bio for more info. #FamilyFun #VICF2026 #vancouver #FamilyFriendly @granville_island

Have you placed your bid yet?! From dream getaways and family experiences to local treats and one-of-a-kind finds, there are so many incredible items waiting for bids in this year’s VICF Hospital Program Online Auction. And the best part? Every bid helps bring live performances, creativity, and moments of joy directly to children and families in healthcare settings who may not be able to attend the Festival in person. 💛 There’s something for everyone, and every bid makes a difference. Swipe through to browse some of this year’s auction items, then click the link in our bio to start bidding or visit 32auctions.com/2026VICFAuction

GLAMILY is back and bringing the sparkle 💄👑✨ Join Zee Zee Theatre and fabulous local drag artists for a family dress-up party where creativity takes centre stage. Think drag show, lip-sync, dress-up and 100% fun. And don’t forget—it’s Pyjama Night, so come as glam or as cozy as you like! Produced by Zee Zee Theatre in association with Tara Cheyenne Performance and Carousel Theatre for Young People. Glamily (All ages) May 29, 6:30 PM Performance Works Link in bio for tickets #VICF2026 #VancouverEvents #FamilyFun @zeezeetheatre @carouseltheatre @taracheyenneperformance

Nimihitowin! which means “to dance” and “to be in movement” in Cree, invites families to experience the vibrant beauty of Indigenous culture at the Vancouver International Children's Festival. Featuring powwow and hoop dance, this mesmerizing performance blends dramatic movement, spectacular regalia, and Cree-composed flute songs. Created for young audiences, this performance invites families to experience the beauty, energy, and storytelling of dance. The dancers in Wild Mint Arts are Cree, Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, Tahltan/Kaska, and Dene. The all-Indigenous crew works closely with elders from Stoney and Blackfoot first nations. Nimihitowin! (All ages) May 26 to 30 Revue Stage Link in bio for tickets #VICF2026 #VancouverEvents #FamilyFun #Nimihitowin @wildmintarts The dancers in Wild Mint Arts are Cree, Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, Tahltan/Kaska, and Dene. The all-Indigenous crew works closely with elders from Stoney and Blackfoot First Nations.

⚠️CONTEST CLOSED! @optikat16 please DM us within 24 hours to claim your prize! We’ve teamed up with @vancouver_mom to give one lucky family a fun, musical evening out at the Festival! 🎶 Win 4 tickets to Will’s Jams: My Best Friends on Friday, May 29 at 6:30PM at @vankidsfest featuring JUNO-nominated musician and CBC Kids star Will Stroet!* 🎸 4 tickets to Will’s Jams: My Best Friends Friday, May 29 6:30PM performance Get ready for an unforgettable family concert filled with dancing, singing, and nonstop energy. With catchy rock-pop tunes in English and French, interactive choruses, and playful wordplay, Will inspires kids (and parents) to be active, creative, and kind. This special show features songs from his brand-new album My Best Friends, plus surprise moments and special guests joining him on stage. Featuring: @SeekaSings @OhClementineMusic @PennyPomPomshow @Beppiemusic @RobinLayne HOW TO ENTER: 1) Follow @vankidsfest and @vancouver_mom 2) Like this post 3) Tag a friend you’d bring! (Each tag = extra entry!) 📅 Contest closes: Thursday, May 14 at 12 PM 🏆 Winner will be contacted via DM ℹ️ ABOUT @vankidsfest : Head down to Granville Island for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, May 25–31. With live performances across music, theatre, circus, and more, plus hands-on fun in the Activity Village, it’s a full day of discovery for kids and families. ℹ️ ABOUT @vancouver_mom : A go-to guide for family life in Vancouver, @vancouver_mom shares the best things to do, see, and experience around the city, helping thousands of local families stay inspired and in the know. *Giveaway open to Lower Mainland residents. Prize must be accepted as awarded. Tickets are valid for the Friday, May 29 at 6:30PM performance only. No substitutions or exchanges. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram.

🎺 Buckle up for a musical joyride! “𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩.” - 𝙎. 𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙮 𝙊𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖 The Merry Marching Band is a zany, globe-trotting adventure packed with honks, toots, and high-energy fun at the Vancouver International Children's Festival. Led by a delightfully bossy (and slightly bird-brained) bandleader, this crew travels from Canada to Brazil to Ukraine—with a quick stop on Mars. 🏆 Opus Award Winner for Best Musical Production for Young Audiences The Merry Marching Band (Ages 5–12) May 27-31 Performance Works Link in bio for tickets #VICF2026 #VancouverEvents #FamilyFun