Totsapalooza was going strong well before I had my own tot to party with. The 7th installation of this kid-friendly book-fest-meets-concert-with-crafts hits the Revival on College St. on Saturday, February 7th from 1 to 3 pm.
My five-year-old date and I may be newbies but we are well versed on featured guest Can Lit icon Dennis Lee. (Author of Alligator Pie.) He’ll be hosting a grand finale gigantic sing-along jam session based on this book. AND Tots-goers will be among the first to experience his newest book of poems for kids Melvis & Elvis.
There will be extra star (and fun) power with author and artist and CBC broadcaster Kevin Sylvester hosting the event, award-winning illustrator and author Ashley Spires launching her latest picture book Edie’s Ensembles and doing a hands-on intro to Maker Culture for Kids based on her bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing, and live music from members of Communism Music.
Plus there will be singing and grooving when Dennis Lee joins the Junior School Rap-Poets Rhyme Stew Crew and the Movement Lab inspires the little dancers in TOw with some new moves.
Tots has always sold-out. Veteran or first-timer, don’t miss out.
CONTEST! Enter to win a Totsapalooza 7 Library prize pack. Details here.
TRIP TIPS:
Getting there: Driving, there is paid street parking along College St ($2.25/hr). On TTC, the 506 College streetcar passes in front. On foot and stroller: there are ‘stroller-valets’ who will happily carry carriages downstairs to the coach check (and up again at the end of the day).
Low-down: Totsapalooza is a festival of picture books, indie bands and DIY crafts designed for kids aged 2-8. The event is capped at 300 people (smalls and talls). Doors open at 12:30pm and show starts at 1pm. No morning show this year.
Tickets: $12 for kids / $16 for adults (the 0-2 age are free but tickets are sold-out.) Advance ticket sales close Friday, February 6. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door to the show on a RUSH basis.
Food: Guests are welcome to bring food and drink. The Kensington Market-based bakery Wanda’s Pie-in-the-Sky will have a pop-up bakery with all-natural, handmade treats. For the adults, Revival will serve wine and beer.
In the hood: Lots of restaurants along College. Hey Meatball just east at Crawford St. There is some green space at Fred Hamilton Park south of College along Shaw St. And if you are a family of walkers, head south 1km to Trinity Bellwoods Park or due north to Christie Pitts Park (with outdoor skating rink.)
DETAILS:
www.smallprinttoronto.org
The Revival
783 College St., Toronto, ON
@smallprintTO
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