Huron County - The EPIC SHIFT Youth Festival will bring Huron County teens together at the Blyth Festival this weekend, February 5, 6 and 7, to explore arts and culture with music, visual art, film, theatre and dance displays and performances.
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Entrance to the event is free for everyone, all weekend,” says Brittany Fry, Project Coordinator of the Engaging Huron’s Youth in Arts and Culture program. “We want as many youth as possible to have the chance to see other local teen talent and to have a space where they can hang out with their friends and meet new people.”

The arts-filled weekend kicks off Friday night with a gala event that features the premier screening of The Comic Side of Things. This original film is written, directed and stars local youth guided by local professionals during the Engaging Huron’s Youth in Arts and Culture film workshop series.

The first-ever Huron Cultural Awards, recognizing the best in arts, culture and heritage in Huron County will be presented at the EPIC SHIFT Youth Festival Gala on Friday night.

Four awards will be presented in the categories: Cultural Event/Organization, Individual Artist, Cultural Patron/Volunteer or Heritage Individual/Organization. Award winners will be profiled on Heritage and Culture Partnership’s website. The winner in each category will receive an original piece of art created by Huron County artist Elizabeth Van Den Broeck of Elizabeth’s Art Gallery, Goderich.

The EPIC SHIFT Youth Festival steps into high gear Saturday from 1:00 PM until 10:00 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM with musical, theatrical, and dance performances. Screenings of short student films and visual artwork will take place in the gallery.

EPIC SHIFT is the perfect place for area youth to hang out – all weekend long! Like a coffee house, youth can chill with friends, fulfill their curiosity as they watch other youth performances in the theatre OR they can relax downstairs in the EPIC Lounge during performances they don’t care to watch.

“We hope Huron’s youth will come with their friends and hang out the entire weekend,” says Fry. “It’s an excellent opportunity for teens to explore peer creativity and meet with friends in a welcoming environment.”

The free festival also features a marketplace where participating youth can sell their merchandise and artwork. It will showcase the varied arts classes and programming offered in the area plus arts businesses and groups in Huron County.

Engaging Huron’s Youth in Arts and Culture is a project led by Heritage and Culture Partnership with community partners and funding support from the Ministry of Culture, the Huron Business Development Corporation, the Huron County Library and the Ontario Arts Council.

The EPIC SHIFT Youth Festival is a FREE event open to all Huron County youth. For more information on the EPIC SHIFT Youth Festival, please contact Brittany Fry at 519.482.5457 ext. 8 or email bfry AT huroncounty DOT ca

A full event schedule is available on the EPIC SHIFT Youth Festival Facebook event page.