The Carousel Players bring the third annual Niagara Children’s Festival to the Niagara Region from May 14-17, 2026. The festival offers four days of family-friendly arts and culture and will feature local, national, and international artists.
The Niagara Children’s Festival offerings include live theatre and other performances, and arts-based activities for the younger set and their older family members. The Festival is designed to be accessible, with the goal of giving families more opportunities to participate in arts and culture.
“I am so excited to bring these wonderful performances and artists to our audiences! We have chosen each piece with care, so that everyone can find something to make their heart soar and their imagination sparkle. Come dance to the music, watch a play with your little one, create a puppet, and help build a mythical creature. We can’t wait to see you there!” says Monica Dufault, Artistic Director at Carousel Players and the Niagara Children’s Festival in a statement.
Participating in the arts has a strong impact on children’s development and well being, including social and emotional growth, and building empathy. According to research conducted by the Canada Council for the arts, about 75% of Canadians say that attending cultural events works to create a stronger sense of community and belonging, and 95% believe that it serves to bridge cultures and backgrounds to bring people together.
“TD Bank is proud to support Carousel Players through the Niagara Children’s Festival! TD is so lucky to get to work with such an incredible organization,” says Carmela Del Duca, Manager, Community Engagement with TD Canada Trust.
The Festival
The Festival opens on May 14, with school performances on May 15. There will be both free and ticketed performances in St. Catharines from May 15 to 17. Performances and activities include puppetry, face painting, crafts, and games, and performances by theatre companies from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the UK.
Ticketed Programming
Burrow — From Théâtre du Gros Mécano (QC)
Ages 3+
May 14, 7:00 p.m.; May 16, 11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. & May 17, 11:00 a.m.
Acorns, pine nuts and mushrooms, pebbles, apples and branches — two small creatures gather provisions in the forest. As they gather, they count each item, and store it for the future. One creature thinks about rations and inventories, while the other writes and dreams. The two friends quibble as they pass through the seasons. Burrow takes its audience on a wordless journey through friendship and living together.
Club Origami — From Ichi Ni San (UK)
Ages 0-6
May 16 & 17, 10:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Club Origami shows how your imagination can be sparked by simply scrunching a square of paper.
It’s an immersive and interactive dance performance that invites families to create and explore new ways of playing and moving. The show combines dance, fashion, and live music along with the magical art of origami.
While We Wait — From Gale Force Theatre (NS)
Ages 3+
May 16 & 17, 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
A young girl named Leo discovers a magic garden shed in While We Wait. The seasons pass, and she struggles with change in this celebration of our kinship with the natural world. Facing change can be challenging, and this performance without words offers an uplifting message via live music and puppetry. It’s an ideal introduction to live performance for young children.
Guardians of the Gods — From Theatre Direct (ON)
Ages 8+
May 16, 4:00 p.m. & May 17, 3:00 p.m.
To children, adults often seem like gods; they are powerful and protective, and kind. But, they can also be unpredictable. Guardians of the Gods sees the world through a child’s eyes. Written by Erik Uddenberg and directed by Gustav Deinoff, the play has been developed based on interviews with children and adults from 11 different countries across five continents as part of The Childhood Project, a large scale international collaboration between participating theatres from Bangladesh to Finland.
Non-Ticketed Programming
Birdsong — From Carousel Players
Ages 4-12
A giant bird has gotten lost while on its annual migration, and has landed at the Festival. It doesn’t know how to find its way. Children and their bird puppets, created as part of the performance, will help the bird, and sing encouraging songs to get it back on its path.
With their help, the giant bird will be able to take flight again, and head off on its migration.
Why Don’t We Together — From Dear Bear Multi-Arts (St. Catharines)
Ages 4-12
This immersive audio-visual experience takes place in a custom-built structure called “The Hut.” As you enter The Hut, you can choose from several curated audio stories that have been written and recorded by a variety of handpicked Ontario artists. Each story features rich sound design and dynamic lighting. The walls, seats, ceilings, and airwaves of The Hut will come alive to bring you into the story world.
Bike Parade & Community Market (May 15, 5 to 7 p.m.)
This free event returns to St. Catharines for a second year. Families can either bring their own bikes, or pick up a refurbished bicycle donated by The Broken Spoke. They can decorate their bikes, and ride in the parade together.
After the parade, there will be a family dance party at Silver Spire, along with free snacks provided by Chef & Bub Gourmet Ice Pops and The Red Chip Wagon for the first 150 guests.
Safety information and helmet fittings are offered by CAA Niagara and Pedalheads, and families can browse free toys, puzzles, clothes, books, and other items at the OPIRG Brock’s Free Store.
Other Free Drop-In Programming
- Hoop Dancing by Lisa Odjig
- Local Musicians & Performers including Revolution Steel Band and the Niagara on the Lake Ukesters
- Face Painting by Happy Ducky Facepainters
- Community Art project led by visual artist Lou Losier
- Live screen printing by TJ Charlton
- Bubbles, Chalk, Crafts, & Lawn Games
Find details about the whole Festival, and tickets, [HERE].
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