Youth activities will return to this year’s salmon festival, giving teens their own area to chill, listen to music and, of course, eat.
Youth involvement coordinator Andrew Chornohus focused on creating a relaxed environment for youths this year, centred around a summer barbecue theme. This is a departure from previous years, when the youth area hosted an annual rock festival, which sometimes got a bit rowdy. Last year, there were no youth-focused activities.
“This year we are trying something different,” Chornohus said. “We are going to have art, video games and sports. We want it to be more like a picnic.”
The live bands have been replaced with a music DJ. Three Nintendo 64 consoles, projected on outdoor screens, will be available for teens to play. Teens will also have an opportunity to grab one of 100, 4x4-feet panels to create a piece of art, using spray paint. The youth-only barbecue will be extremely affordable, with $1 hot dogs, and $2 hamburgers, with pop and freezies available as well. Hungry teens who come with no money can score free food, if they participate in one of the activities.
“If they participate in the spray painting, they can get a free hotdog,” Chornohus said. “We’re not going to turn any youth away.”
In previous years, the youth area has attracted anywhere from 100 to 500 attendees, depending on the weather. The youth area will be at the Steveston Community Centre’s outdoor tennis court and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
