Kidfest is on hold this year unless about a dozen volunteer positions are filled to keep the 18-year-old event alive.
The day-long event, sponsored by Quality Foods, happens in the Parksville Community Park every summer and consists of non-stop children’s entertainment, free interactive games from over 30 community groups, crafts and activities.
This year at the Oceanside Kidfest Society’s annual general meeting there were only five people in attendance, a problem the society has struggled with for the past few years, but not to this extent, said chairperson/director Mary Ready.
“Last year we were begging for people, but it wasn’t quite this late,” she said.
Although the event usually has plenty of volunteers the day of the event, they need executive and committee chairs, and volunteers within each committee.
Ready is helping out but had hoped to step down this year, so her position is one that needs to be filled. Others include vice chairperson, secretary and committee chairs that would head areas like community booths, concessions, entertainment, site planning and more.
The group needs to elect enough people to meet the requirements of the Society Act, but often one person has taken on multiple roles.
The society will re-valuate their member status on April 13 and at that time the three current directors will make the decision to continue or not.
With upwards of 3,000 people attending past events Ready is sure it’s an event the public won’t want to see disappear.
“It’s wonderful for the children both locally and vacationing,” she said.
To find out more information about Kidfest or to volunteer visit www.kidfest.ca, call 250-248-3252 or e-mail recparks@rdn.bc.ca.