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Winterlochen brings Traverse City area children to Interlochen campus for arts exploration, creative play, and "The Sleeping Beauty"

More than 1,500 local children and family members participated in free visual arts, creative writing, and theatre programs led by Interlochen Arts Academy faculty, students, and staff on Feb. 15.

A girl performs with the Popular Music Ensemble
Leslie Dunner helps a young boy conduct
Children play improv games in Harvey Theatre
Children coloring at a table
A drumline leads a parade
A boy tries playing the trumpet

More than 1,500 local children and family members participated in free visual arts, creative writing, and theatre programs led by Interlochen Arts Academy faculty, students, and staff on Feb. 15.

Printmaking, acting workshops, and conducting were just three of the many creative activities hundreds of children enjoyed on the Interlochen campus on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Winterlochen, the family-friendly winter arts festival led by Arts Academy faculty, students, and staff.

“We are thrilled to welcome so many local children to Interlochen for arts exploration and creative play,” said Trey Devey, President of Interlochen Center for the Arts. “Our campus is always open to them for enriching programs and performances.”

A community winter arts festival has taken place on the Interlochen campus for over 20 years. Programming on Feb. 15 kicked off at 11 a.m. and included a sustainable sculpting class, face painting by Interlochen Arts Academy makeup design students, a “postcard poem” writing workshop, a jam band singalong, mural painting, sledding on “Winterlochen mountain,” and much more. Uptown Dogs, Moomers, Taqueria T.C. Latino, and Bradley’s provided lunch trucks on the Interlochen campus.

At 1:30 p.m., the Traverse City Central High School Drumline led children in a parade to Corson Auditorium, where a free performance of the Arts Academy Dance Company’sThe Sleeping Beauty began at 2 p.m. With live accompaniment by the Arts Academy Orchestra, the breathtaking performance featured intricate, hand-stitched costumes, captivating scenic design, and choreography inspired by Marius Petipa’s 1890 production.

Winterlochen was sponsored by the Interlochen Chamber of Commerce. Hofbrau Restaurant donated 5% of their breakfast sales that morning to the Interlochen Chamber of Commerce.

About Interlochen Center for the Arts
A global destination for artists and arts enthusiasts, Interlochen Center for the Arts comprises Interlochen Arts Camp, a world-class multidisciplinary summer arts program; Interlochen Arts Academy, the nation’s premier fine arts boarding high school; Interlochen Presents, a producer of more than 600 annual performances by celebrated guest artists, Interlochen students, and faculty; Interlochen Public Radio, two listener-supported, 24-hour public radio stations (classical music and news); and Interlochen College of Creative Arts, a convener for lifelong arts education. Since 1928, Interlochen has served a mission to ignite and propel a lifelong passion for the arts. For more information, visit interlochen.org.

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