Unique children’s festival part of big family fun planned for SPARK Ipswich
22 June 2022
From fictional monster duck quests, gigantic artworks and adventurous musical tales to a unique children’s music and arts festival, there is plenty to explore for the young and the young at heart during SPARK Ipswich - 7 to 17 July 2022.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said SPARK Ipswich’s 11-day city-wide program of events, activations and performances would be packed with wholesome family fun and special cultural experiences.
“There are activities for the whole family, from the enormous light installations of SPARK AFTER DARK to Ipswich’s immersive festival Little Day Out that is designed for children, headlined by Queensland music legends Regurgitator’s kids show POGOGO,” Mayor Harding said.
“Little Day Out is Ipswich’s signature children’s contemporary music and arts festival, and while it may be little by name, it will be big on fun, bursting with music, hands-on art experiences and roving entertainment.”
Deputy Mayor and Division 1 Councillor Jacob Madsen said SPARK Ipswich would showcase and reflect the culture of Ipswich, its people and places through a fun and family-friendly program.
“We are a proud city of young families, and SPARK Ipswich offers affordable family entertainment at Little Day Out, Monster Siege, Peter and the Wolf and more across the city,” Cr Madsen said.
“One of the most popular events of last year’s inaugural SPARK Ipswich, Little Day Out promises to again be an exceptional festival full of creativity and a fun focus on sustainability.
“Children, parents and even grandparents are invited to get their hands dirty with seedling planting and boomerang painting before playing, singing and dancing the day away at Ripley Town Centre.”
Division 1 Councillor Sheila Ireland said SPARK Ipswich’s family events would provide a variety of educative, creative and imagination-expanding experiences for children of all ages.
“Children will be captivated by stories and immersive events including Monster Siege - a giant quest where kids star as the best versions of themselves – and Peter and the Wolf, a light-hearted symphony in which animals and characters brought to life by different instruments,” Cr Ireland said.
“My grandchildren and I are really looking forward to Little Day Out and dancing and singing along to Regurgitator’s POGOGO silly musical mash-up of funk, pop and rock.”
Mayor Harding said she encouraged families across South East Queensland to explore the 11 days and nights of SPARK Ipswich and discover all the growing city has on offer.
“This year we have a bigger festival program welcoming several new additions including WOMI, a free one-day World Music Festival, and the festival’s hub – luminate – where friends and family can gather to enjoy SPARK AFTER DARK in the rejuvenated Ipswich Central,” Mayor Harding said.
“A new hub at Timothy Molony Park will combine the best views of deLight at St Mary’s and pixel, the algorithmic light show at council’s Administration Building, with an outdoor stage to shine a light on local artists, alongside a feature of delicious food truck offerings.”
SPARK Ipswich 2022 will deliver 15 events over 11 days. The full program and ticketing information are available at SparkIpswich.com.au
SPARK IPSWICH FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAM SNAPSHOT:
SPARK AFTER DARK: Thursday 7 to Sunday 17 July
Explore the festival’s light-based installations of deLight and pixel nightly from 6pm to 10pm.
LUMINATE: Thursday 7 to Sunday 17 July
Timothy Molony Park
Gather and graze at the new festival hub, featuring live performances in Timothy Molony Park nightly from 6pm to 9pm.
SPARK ON TOUR: Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 July
SPARK Ipswich hits the road taking the festival to small halls across the region. In A Bee Story the Queen Bee and Worker Bee find themselves in a sticky situation and need to work together to rebuild their hive, but things never quite go to plan. A Bee Story is a uniquely Australian physical theatre show for children and families incorporating a kaleidoscope of circus, acrobatics, dance and live music.
MONSTER SIEGE: Friday 8 to Sunday 10 July
Timothy Molony Park
Sport for the non-sporty and arts for the non-arty. A fictional quest, where kids star as the best versions of themselves. Running daily from 10am to 2pm.
PETER AND THE WOLF: Saturday 16 July
St Paul’s Anglican Church
Ipswich City Orchestras present this light-hearted symphony telling the irreverent story of a young boy named Peter, who joins a menagerie of animals to outwit a fierce wolf.
LITTLE DAY OUT: Sunday 17 July
Ripley Town Centre
Ipswich’s signature children’s contemporary music and arts festival is little by name but BIG on fun. Live acts include feisty trio Babushka before Regurgitator’s POGOGO show headlines the main stage.
SPARK Ipswich is delivered through the support of the following partners:
Foundation Partner: Ipswich City Council; Major Partners: Ripley Town Centre, Orion Springfield Central, Stockland Providence and The Queensland Government; Support Partners: Brick Lane Brewing, Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC), and Quest Springfield Central; Media Partners: Bishopp, Scenestr, 4ZZZ and QMusic; Programming Partners: Ipswich Libraries, first5forever, Ipswich Art Gallery, Studio 188, Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich Waste Services, Ipswich Catholic Community, Ipswich City Orchestras, Circa 160, Goleby’s Basement and Hotel Metropole.