Kaleido Family Arts Festival is back.
Well, it never technically left, but for the last two pandemic years it’s been a mobile/from a distance festival. So it might be more accurate to say Kaleido is once again stationary, although it covers a lot of ground, and plenty of people will be moving to the music.
“We are now able to say that we are back on the avenue,” says festival founder Christy Morin. “Our vibrant, exuberant, radically open festival will return to stages, alleys, balconies, rooftops, porches, and parks in the district between 90th and 95th Streets.”
The weekend’s lineup is packed with performances, art, music, food, theatre, street performances, installations, markets and popups on 10 stages in parks, in businesses, on balconies, in galleries and even on porches. There will be over 200 performers and the main stage will be in the green space behind the Alberta Avenue Community League Hall to make more space for the festival that grows each year.
It kicks off Friday night with the Aurora Lantern Parade in front of The Carrot Community Arts Coffee House, where performers and festival goers will dance, sing, drum and laugh together.
“The last few years, we knew that our community could not afford not having the festival come through during the pandemic. So we made it happen. It was ‘Kaleido On Tour 2020 and 2021,’ Morin laughs. “Now we’re back on the street and calling it Classic Kaleido. And we are so excited. It just feels good to be home and to be back on the streets, avenue and rooftops that we know as home.”
Check out the free, accessible festival September 16 to 18.
