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Culture Days kicks off in Surrey today

John Mann, Lisa Brokop and Rawle Iam James among the performers.
95606surreyjohn-mannSurrey
Spirit of the West frontman John Mann will be among the performers in Surrey today (Thursday

It’ll be three days of free entertainment, artistic presentations and activities. And it’s all going to kick off in Surrey.

B.C.’s fifth-annual Culture Days takes place across the province Sept. 26-28.

But today (Thursday), all eyes will be on Surrey for the event’s launch, which will feature a two-hour party with a diverse line-up of entertainment guaranteed to please all tastes.

On Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the stage at Surrey City Hall will host a steady stream of music, dancing and acting.

Hosted by Christopher Gaze, the day will include entertainment by Spirit of the West’s John Mann, a hometown return by country singer Lisa Brokop and a poetry reading by 2014 Culture Days Ambassador Rawle Iam James.

There will also be performances by the Surrey City Orchestra, the hip hop troupe Praise Team, the Re-Enactors and storytelling inside Evelyn Roth’s giant inflatable salmon.

Guest speakers include Kwantlen Polytechnic University Academic Vice-President Sal Ferreras and Arts Umbrella President and CEO Lucille Pacey.

From Sept. 26-28, more than 200 free, interactive activities are planned throughout Metro Vancouver, which coincides with celebrations across Canada.

Check www.bc.culturedays.ca

Celebrate at the Surrey Arts Centre and gallery

Culture – it’s not just for yogurt.

Create, participate, and celebrate during Canada’s fifth-annual Culture Days weekend at the Surrey Arts Centre and Surrey Art Gallery

On Sept. 27 from 1-5 p.m., select your flavours – hands-on art-making, circus performers, quilting demonstrations, a break-dance battle, a book launch or a host of locally grown performing artists.

These free activities are crafted to entertain and satisfy your taste for the arts.

• Be welcomed by the Heritage Re-enactors, professional actors portraying some of Surrey’s early settlers.

• Drop in for the DIY Nature Prints art making activity, inspired by the exhibition Flora and Fauna: 400 Years of Artists Inspired by Nature. Create your own cyanotype (blue and white print) using items from nature.

• Drop by the Just for Kicks BreakDance Demo – crews of 10 dancers will try to outdance each other while a DJ plays great music.

• Watch the expert hands of members of the Fraser Valley Quilters Guild and see some of their beautiful creations inspired by the natural world and beyond.

• Watch and learn from Cirque Surrey’s youth circus performers.

Also on schedule:

• 1:15–2 p.m.: Listen to talented, local musicians fresh from the Band-Aid workshop (see photo above).

• 2-4 p.m.: Drop in and join a short tour of the exhibition Flora and Fauna – hear interesting stories about the artworks and the artists.

• 2–2:45 p.m.: Hear the unique sounds of classical Indian instruments, courtesy of Naad Arts.

• 2:45–3:30 p.m.: Watch local young artists from A.C.M.E. Arts present singing, spoken word and rap.

• 3:30–4:15 p.m.: The Re-enactors will get you up close and personal with Surrey’s history.

• 4:15–5 p.m.: See some of the best shorts films that have been screened at the Surrey International Film Festival.