Cameron Fraser-Monroe performs a hoop dance at last year’s YAA Fest in Polson Park. This year’s event, taking place Thursday at the park’s bandshell, has plenty more entertainment, including live music, food, activities and informational booths.

Cameron Fraser-Monroe performs a hoop dance at last year’s YAA Fest in Polson Park. This year’s event, taking place Thursday at the park’s bandshell, has plenty more entertainment, including live music, food, activities and informational booths.

Youth get involved in staging 2014 YAA Fest

It’ll be all that and a bag of chips when the fifth annual YAA Fest brings bands, booths, and free food to Polson Park next Thursday.

It’ll be all that and a bag of chips when the fifth annual YAA Fest brings bands, booths, and free food to Polson Park next Thursday.

Hosted by Community Futures of the North Okanagan, the Youth Achievement and Appreciation Festival is about youth, for youth and this year has been partly organized by youth.

“We wanted to find out what youth appreciated and how they could be incorporated, so we have tried to get the youth and high school students more involved,” said Leeann Wilhelm, job search advisor with Community Futures and YAA Fest coordinator.

This year, Clarence Fulton Secondary leadership students have come on board with their ideas and will be volunteering at the event, which takes place at the park’s bandshell area to create more of a festival feel.

“We will have all sorts of things that youth are interested in. The Fulton leadership group will not only volunteer, but will give us feedback. This way it creates skills for them and gets everyone involved in the community to meet employers,” said Wilhelm.

And what’s a festival without music. This year’s YAA Fest features a cross-breed of local musical talent.

Alternative rock bands Amistad and Siesta Motel will crank out the tunes along with acoustic trip-hoppers OM and Our Kids Have Talent finalists, violin duo Eli Garlick and Hana Friedman.

Rounding out the entertainment is local MC Immaculate, who is making a name for himself in the hip hop world beyond these borders, as is Vernon-via-Nashville singer-songwriter-guitarist Raquel Cole.

A number of local organizations will be on site to talk about and display their information, including Community Futures/Work B.C., Teen Junction Youth Centre, North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society, Independent Living Vernon, RCMP Jean Minguy Memorial Youth Academy, First Nations Friendship Centre, Okanagan College, Okanagan Boys and Girls Club, and Work Safe B.C.

Besides prizes and handouts, youth can also pick up a new T-shirt, printed by Vernon company A.M.I. Clothing, which features the YAA Fest logo, as well as enjoy a free hot dog, drink and bag of chips. Some food vendors will also be on site.

Those wishing to burn some calories can play volleyball or try out the jousting set and/or obstacle course being set up by local company Bounce Hire.

Sponsors for YAA Fest include the United Way, Sun FM, Kal Tire, and Community Futures. The event runs at Polson Park Thursday, May 15 from 3 to 7 p.m.

 

Vernon Morning Star