Each year new teachers are involved in our celebration. So here are the answers to a few FAQs.

  • Where does the festival take place?
    The festival is held at Orangeville Baptist Church, located at the corner of Hwy. 10 and Hockley Rd. just north of Orangeville. Click here for a map.

  • How many students can come?
    DYFA feedback from teachers recommended that performers appreciate a full audience each morning. Consider bringing at 80-100 people in total. (teaching staff, supervisors, student performers and students attending as audience members)

  • When are we supposed to get there in the morning?
    Everyone is encouraged to arrive in time to set up, find assigned seating areas and double check arrangements with stage managers (accompaniment CDs, placement of mics, etc.) before O Canada is sung at 9:20 a.m. sharp. Volunteer greeters welcome each school with info packages and are there to make the morning run as smoothly as possible for schools. Your school will know by April 1st of their confirmed date and order in the agenda.

  • How long do we have to perform? Can we bring several different performances?
    After several speakers welcome us to the morning, the first school performance starts at 9:30 a.m. With the 17 minute max performance total, 3 minutes are allowed to withdraw the performers back to their seats and stream the oncoming performance into place for 9:50. . . and 10:10. . . Usually we break for at least 15 minutes at 10:30 and resume with the first performance of the last half at 10:50. . . 11:10 and possibly 11:30. Immediately after the final school set we take two minutes to thank those who have joined hands to make the festival happen.

    Suggestions: 
    -only perform three pieces of one type – example:  three songs, three recorder pieces, three instrumental pieces
    -time yourself before coming to the festival so as to abide by the 17 minute per school time allotment
    -try to put all the performing groups from your group on the stage at once so as not to use the 17 minutes for movement – when one group is finished, just have them sit down and watch the next group

    At times, we’ve had a school attend and perform on two days due to interest in presenting bands each day or ensuring a sufficient audience.

  • What about the mass choral piece?
    A chant will be used to conclude each morning of the festival.  This chant will be available on this website soon.

  • Who’s in charge of students?
    Students are to be accompanied at all times by teachers and/or your school's parent volunteers. Students must be accompanied to the washrooms and are not to leave during performances. Everyone attending is asked stay seated and quiet during performances. At the emcees or director's request, we can join in clapping along to tunes. Please leave electronics at home or turn them off. During the intermission around 10:30 students are free to eat snacks outside under supervision.

  • What kinds of performances have been done?
    Performances vary from a 4 minute Primary class-read poem or song, a Junior recorder club rendition, a Senior project unit drama or skit, over to gymnastic ribbon choreography. We place school bands usually at the beginning of each half to allow time for set up before hand. Browse last year's programme for ideas.

    Reminder: Thank you for being respectful of our host facility and young family audience re: performance material.

  • I’m the assigned DYFA contact at our school but have never attended. Help!
    Mary Runciman mary @dyfa.com. is willing to help teachers choose/develop/stage/present performances. You will find that the DFYA team is open to ideas on making the festival work for everyone involved - your input is valued!

  • When is it over?
    The festival finishes usually before or at noon. Since schools have expressed an interest in having more time to browse the amazing visual art displays, we would particularly encourage schools to return to school once the students have been able to look over the exhibits well. Some schools could come early for this. Other schools could use intermission period, although the area is crowded at this point. Consider also staying afterwards after giving the students a 5 minute break outside if this would help. Regardless, please ensure that students don't miss out!

    When you return to school, please have students express their feelings and reactions to the morning’s events. Some can be submitted to the DYFA website for publication in Arts Matters; an online sharing opportunity.