Poppykettle looks to past, present & future
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
This year the Alcoa Poppykettle Festival has been expanded to a three-day event, providing more fun-filled concerts, films, workshops, singing and dancing than ever before.
More than 2000 children from primary schools and kindergartens all over the Geelong region will attend the festival from April 17-19, 2008.
This year the Alcoa Poppykettle Festival will provide even more fun with the added family day allowing mums, dads, kids, grandparents and others from throughout the region and beyond to enjoy the festivities.
Kindergarten Day will be held on Thursday 17 April; Primary School Day will be on Friday 18 April; and the new Family Day is on Saturday 19 April.
Headlining this year’s festival is Cosentino, one of the world’s most unique and talented illusionists (on 18th and 19th only). Prepare to take a trip into the realms of your imagination, with dazzling magic and illusions blended with energetic dance, dangerous nail-biting escapes, audience participation and many surprising twists.
Also appearing at lunchtime concerts on Thursday 17 April and Saturday 19 April will be The Mighty BuZZniks, a highly energized, richly musical group playing a concoction of rock, folk, hip hop and pop that gives kids the thrill of live music. The quirky humour in their lyrics is seriously fun and even educational.
The Alcoa Poppykettle Festival has been Geelong’s premier children’s festival for more than 25 years, dedicated to promoting and celebrating performing arts for young people. It originated when the Geelong Corio Teacher Librarians Association decided to hold a literary day for children. Held as part of the weeklong Springding Festival, the event was inspired by local author Robert Ingpen’s award winning children’s book ‘The Voyage of the Poppykettle’. The book has recently been re-released for a new generation of children to enjoy.
Today, the festival is a unique multi-arts event that encourages children to celebrate the arts through participation and performance.