Vekara-Varkaus Children's Summer Festival 2014

1. June 9 – 15, 2014 Vekara-VarkausChildrens Summer Festival Детскийлетнийфестиваль «Векара-Варкаус»

2. Facts about the Festival • Founded in 1995, celebrating its 20th anniversary • Organised by Navitas Kehitys Oy, tourism • The only children’s festival in Eastern Finland • 24 500 attendees in 2013 • Circus theme in 2014 • Large variety of programmes; arts, exercise, sport, crafts, food culture, tourist services

3. Power of collaboration • About 80 differentevents and workshopsexecutedbycompanies, associations, artists, churchparishes, city of Varkaus and neighbouringmunicipalities • Hotel accommodation and vacation packages for families • In restaurantsspecial food and Waffle competition • Marketing cooperation

4. National Children’sliteratureprize LukuVarkaus 3,500.00 euros • Stora Enso Oyj and City of Varkaus • PreparatoryworksinceJanuary: bookstore Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, Library of Varkaus, literatureexpert • Winningbook is selectedby a 6-person jury of childrenages 7-12 • Publicationduring Vekara-Varkaus Festival week

5. Song Contest for Children and Young PeopleWednesdayJune 11, 2014 at 6:00 pm in Warkaus Hall • National competition • Series for children under 10 and for children ages 10-16, ten competitors/series • Prize money and jury costs will be paid by the Varkaus branch of Pohjois-Savon Osuuspankki • Jury consists of a representative of the bank and three music professionals • Festival office is responsible for practical arrangments • Entrance fee to song competition 8 euros

6. Fairytale Tours to Sturgeon Facility • Humorousguidedbustour to sturgeonfacility of CarelianCaviar Ltd. • Guidedbysturgeon lady whowascreated just for Vekara-Varkaustours • Tourpresents the history of sturgeonfish and the process of producingcaviar • Annualfavourite • Festivaloffice is responsible for costs • Entrancefee is 5 euros

7. Summer Street NightThursday June 12, 2014 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm • The shopping street of Varkaus turns to a walking street • About 90 street-level shops • Programme: Children’s verbal expression competition (poem, nursury rhyme, joke, story), Presenting the award for 4-12 year-old Child Photographer of the Year, music, pony riding, workshop, street artists, circus programme, bouncy castle, variety of food spots etc. • Expenses are paid by the festival office and Varkaus Development Association Potkuri, which represents shops.

8. DiscoJam, Ravintola NizzaTuesdayJune 10, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm • Local restaurant organises a children’s disco • Additional programme offered such as face painting and a variety of food service • The restaurant is responsible for expenses and charges a small entrance fee

9. Art Centre Väinölä • Joy to Eastern Finland naïve artists in Varkaus, exhibition for the whole summer • Paper Doll Theatre presentations • Art Centre is responsible for expenses, volunteer entrance fee 5 euros

10. Trip to Garden Farm • Bus trip to an organic farm located near Varkaus, which has farm animals and a garden • Tour of nursery garden (apple trees, useful plants) • Children get to know farm animals (cows, sheep, chickens, cats and dog) • Give names to chickens, eat delicious pancakes and have fun in a country setting • Entrance fee

11. Trip to observatory of Härkämäki • In partnership with Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the Varkauden Kassiopeia astronomical association, and the festival office • Participants get information about the Planets and solar energy and look into space with observatory’s telescope • Pancakes fried at lean-to • Entrance fee

12. Othercollaboration • Adventure Island is open during the whole festival week • City Tours on the Kalakukko Street Train • Theme cruises with Lady of the Lake electric boat • Magic of theatre performances at Varkauden Teatteri • Circus workshops • Finnish Summersault Championships • Parkourworkshop • Frisbee workshop • Sand sculpturing • Workshop for playing harmonica • Fishing schools • Karelian pastry station • Football school • NavitasJunior Marathon • Workshop for bus stop painting • Station for driving radio-controlled cars • Newspaper workshop • Tarzan jump rope competition • Picture orienteering And many more…