This year’s Spark Children’s Festival will run from May 31st until June 13th and promises to stir the region’s imagination with an exciting programme to thrill, delight and inspire all ages.

For one fantastic fortnight, venues across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland play host to a wealth of national and international theatre, music, dance, puppetry and art, designed specifically for children.

The festival will also have a strong early years focus this year, featuring world-class performers, including Babyfest and LalaLuna at De Montfort Hall, Olga Volt The Electric Fairy and Funnybones at Curve plus Oily Cart’s ‘Drum’ at The Richard Attenborough Centre.

Many of the events are interactive and offer even the youngest children a chance to get hands on, with workshops or maybe even becoming part of the show! Also, many of the events are completely free!

The Spark is also delivering the festival right to your doorstep with performances at small community locations and larger venues alike. Many schools in the region are also looking forward to Spark performances in their own classrooms.

Last year, amongst other activities, families did chalk drawing on the pavements at Highcross, painting the grass red at De Montfort Hall and tightrope walking in a Big Top at Regent College.

For 2010, The Spark is bringing internationally acclaimed acts to Leicestershire with some visually stunning performances. World class companies including Oily Cart, Spoontree Productions, Horse and Bamboo, Barebones and Shona Reppe will delight young audiences during the festival.

Modern classics such as The Gruffalo at De Montfort Hall and Funny Bones at Curve, sit alongside traditional favourites, including The Princess and The Pea at community venues and Treasure Island at Loughborough Town Hall.

With so many stimulating and engaging arts events, The Spark offers the whole family many opportunities to spend quality time together, go somewhere new and do something completely different.

2010 will see an innovative outdoor production of Grimm’s Fairy Tales at the Botanical Gardens and Leicester Cathedral will be hosting its first ever Spark event.

The Festival is brimming with unique ideas for family days out with lots of ways to get stuck in and have a go, such as the Spin performance poetry workshops at The Y and a Sculpture Day at Cross Corners.

The Spark Children’s Arts Festival will take place between May 31st and 13th June at venues across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

For more information please visit www.sparkfestival.co.uk, call 0116 261 6893 or email admin@sparkfestival.co.uk