Squamish residents are invited to a daylong festival in downtown Squamish this weekend celebrating the positive contributions of young people to the community.
Youth Fest 2011, which takes place on Saturday (May 21) from noon to 6 p.m. on Cleveland Avenue in front of Gelato Carina, will include live music from local youth bands, singers and the Howe Sound Secondary School band.
Youth Fest "is the only event in Squamish that is planned for youth, by youth," organizers said in a statement. In addition to music on the roof of Gelato Carina, it is to include carnival games, hula hooping, booths for youth, air-brush tattoos, a fashion show featuring designs from Squamish stores, a silent auction and more. Cleveland Avenue will be closed to traffic during the festival.
Youth Fest 2011 is supported by Sea to Sky Community Services (which operates the Squamish Youth Resource Centre), Gelato Carina, School District 48, the B.C. Ministry of Child and Family Development "and many other individuals in the community who think our youth need to be celebrated," organizers said.
"Local youth have been accomplishing so many great things in our community already this year, from Sheila Hanton, who recently won the National RBC Youth Achievement Award, to the team of youth who travelled to Ottawa for the Unite and Ignite Conference, to the hundreds youth who everyday contribute energy, talent and ideas to our community," said Renee Theoret, SSCS Youth Resource Centre coordinator. "We are delighted to have this event in Squamish and to designate this special day to say thanks for all they do."
