Dawn – Family Festival of Hope and Light is just one week away – Saturday, June 14!
If you haven't yet registered, please do so here. This helps us track numbers and email you any changes or updates.

Here are all the details you need to prepare and know what to expect:

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🕒 Schedule

3:00 PM – Arrival & Setup
Set up your picnic blankets, chairs, dishes, Kids Market stall, and Art Gallery piece(s).

3:30 PM – Festival Begins!

• Opening circle with Emilie

• Face painting

• Sun-themed craft station

• Sports & games

• Toddler activity centre

4:45–5:15 PM – Kids Market

5:15 PM (ish) – Communal BBQ & Potluck Dinner

6:30 PM – Talent Show

7:15 PM onward – Dancing, free play, and possibly a bonfire

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👶 Families with Young Children

Arrive at a time that works for your family — we understand naps are sacred!

We’ll have:

• A tent for resting/nursing

• Toddler tunnels

• A play structure and sandbox (note: children under 3 must be supervised on the structure at all times)
   

🎨 Art Gallery

Please bring 1–2 art pieces per child.

We’re playing with the idea of a lawn gallery (art over a large sheet) or using large cardboard or plywood if available. If you have ideas or materials to help display art outdoors, let me know!

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🌅 This week we hope to gather children to paint sunrises.
Feel free to follow the theme of sunrises and birds, or let your child's creativity lead.

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🛍 Kids Market

Last year’s market was a hit! Children created and sold all kinds of treasures — comics, jewelry, books, seedlings, and more.

Tips:

• Price items in 25 cent increments, prepare price labels ahead of time please!

• Most special items were $2–$5

• Bring your own float/change for purchases and making change
   

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t have items to sell — being a customer is also a wonderful learning experience. Children 8 and under may need some adult help.

Last year, we opened the market again for 15 in after dinner. We may do that again depending on the flow of the evening.

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🍽 Food & Potluck

Dads will be working the BBQ (remember to bring your own meat)
Potluck dishes will be served inside.

If you missed this in the first email:

• Last names A–L: please bring a dessert or fruit

• Last names M–Z: please bring a side dish or salad

Allergies: PLEASE LET US KNOW OF ANY SERIOUS ALLERGIES
If possible, please bring a label with your name for your dish listing the common allergens, etc it contains eg:
Gluten/Gluten free, meat/fish/vegan, nuts, dairy/dairy free
 

🎤 Talent Show

Email me to sign up your child (or yourself!).

If you need music, send the track in advance so I can build the playlist.

No pressure — not every talent fits on a stage! Kindness, drawing, nature sense, and math brilliance are just as beautiful, even if quietly so.

A group of us are working on this French song.
You're welcome to listen to it with your children to famliliarize yourself with it. You can learn the chorus and join us!
L'Oiseau et l'Enfant
For lyrics and translation see this document

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Talent ideas:

• Song or instrumental performance

• Dance or gymnastics

• Soccer tricks

• Poetry or story reading

• Magic show
   

☀️ Other Notes

Weather:
As of now, no raindate is scheduled due to Father’s Day the next day. If we need to reschedule, it may be in July or August. Stay tuned, and let's all intend sun together!

Driving:
Please drive very slowly once you turn off the main road — children will be playing. Carpooling is encouraged.

Clothing:
Wear your sunrise colours! Yellows, oranges, whites, soft pinks – let's shine together.

Let me know if you have any questions or contributions. I can’t wait to see you and celebrate together under the open sky.

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With hope and light,
Emilie