White Rock's Uptown Street Festival has never been about standing still – or resting on its laurels.
The festival, constantly evolving since 2005, returns Saturday (11 a.m-4 p.m.), offering an abundance of special events and attractions designed to keep participants milling through the uptown area of Johnston Road, from Five Corners to North Bluff Road.
Each year, something new is added, and this time event presenters the White Rock BIA are including a first annual Uptown Decorated Bike and Scooter Parade in the lineup.
Aimed at both children and the young-in-heart, the parade includes safety demonstrations and checks on each bike and scooter by volunteers from the White Rock Community Policing Office, plus a showcase for skilled BMX riders who will wow the crowd with their daring 'air' tricks in the area immediately behind Central Plaza.
"We wanted to get the kids more involved, and also reach out to community organizations," said BIA executive director Sherri Wilson Morissette, who added that young riders will be able to test their riding skills over an obstacle course at Central Plaza.
Entry into the parade is free, but riders are required by law to wear a helmet and organizers ask that parents escort their children along the parade route.
Before the parade gets underway, there will also be a judging of the decorated bikes and scooters at Central Plaza in four age categories: three to five, six to nine, 10 to 13 and seniors.
The festival will also mark the return of a favourite introduced last year, the Uptown Companion Dog Show. Only show of its kind in White Rock, the event, also at Central Plaza, allows dogs and owners to come out and compete for prizes in a number of categories, including the coveted Judges' Favourite award.
"It was very popular last year – we had a big crowd coming out to watch it. Some of the categories, like 'most like owner,' are hilarious. And this year, quite a lot of people have pre-registered, so it should be even bigger."
Registration is also available on the day (pre-registration is still possible through www.inwhiterock.com/events) and the entry fee is by donation, with proceeds going to the SPCA.
Musical entertainment has not been neglected in the line-up, which includes students of the Todd Brewer School of Music performing at Hillcrest Mall; the Red Beans and Rice Jazz Band, which will travel to various uptown locations throughout the day, and the Tropitonics Steel Drum Band, which will play 1-2 p.m. at Central Plaza.
The Uptown Art Walk is another feature of this year's festival, presented in partnership with the Outside The Box festival, which celebrates all variations of art that use fibres – everything from painted canvases to wool and yarn creations.
Exhibits of different Outside the Box artists will be hosted by various uptown merchants, Morissette said.
"We've been working very closely with the organizers of Outside the Box, and Semiahmoo Arts, to help make it a bigger and better event – it's one of the ways we're reaching out to community organizations to make sure we work together and not in isolation," Morissette said.
Adding to the appeal of the Art Walk will be an outdoor art exhibition hosted by the Golden Cactus Studio on Russell Avenue, she said, featuring work by local artists, including the studio's Chris MacClure, Marilyn Hurst and Trish Pollock, plus Jesse Rice, Suan Sommer, Ann Worth, Mike Abraham, Sandy Cattermole and Dave Benning.
"They volunteered themselves to help make it an even bigger event," said Morrissette, adding the display area will be adjacent to the Whale Wall location of one of the Uptown Street Festival's most popular attractions, the Chili Cook-Off Contest – a fundraiser for the Millennium Rotary Club's local projects and charities.
"Not only will they be able to try some great chili for a good cause, but they'll be able to check out all the art while they're there," she said.