Duane Hicks
Ever thought of taking part in the annual Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts?
The festival committee is holding its first-ever open house and registration night on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.
The event is the perfect time to sign up to sing, recite a poem, play a song, perform a skit, or dance in this April’s festival.
“The idea is for people to come in and ask questions, get help filling out their entry forms, and look at the resources we have,” committee member Heather Latter told the Times.
Latter noted other types of community activities, such a youth soccer, often have registration nights that have proven successful so the festival committee decided to give it a try this year.
“People don’t have to come and register then, especially if they’ve done it before and they know what they’re doing,” she stressed.
“But we just thought it would be nice to have the opportunity for people to come if they have questions if they’re not familiar with it.”
Latter admitted the festival entry form can be confusing for the uninitiated but volunteers will be on hand to help at the open house.
She added the open house also is a chance for prospective participants, or their parents, to find out just how many performance classes there are–and maybe sign up for new ones that suit their talents.
“They might be interested in saying a poem, for instance, and then we might say, ‘Well, you might also be interested in doing a reading,.'” Latter explained.
“They might learn about other classes they’re not aware of.”
As well, Latter said the open house is a good chance for school teachers and music teachers to ask questions and get assistance with entry forms if they plan to enter their classes and/or pupils in the festival.
But the open house also will be convenient for those who are experienced in the registration process and participate in the festival every year.
“You can just come and bring your entry form in, pay on the spot, and it’s done,” said Latter.
Latter also reminded last year’s award winners who come to register to bring their plaques and return them to festival organizers.
As well, she’s hoping to have some past festival participants on hand to talk about their experiences.
A bake sale fundraiser will be held in conjunction with the open house. Those who would like to donate baked goods can contact any festival committee member.
There also will be a door prize, which anyone who attends the open house can enter to win.
For those who can’t make it to the open house, don’t panic–there is still a few weeks to sign up for this year’s festival.
The deadline for festival entries is Feb. 16.
Participants can find entry forms on the festival’s website at ff-festival.com and follow the instructions there.
The 78th-annual festival will run April 3-20, with the “Highlights” concert slated for Tuesday, May 8 at the Townshend Theatre.
