By Tammy Kilby
For the Times
DARLINGTON — Local talents will take center stage at this year’s Canoe Fest, June 7-9 in Darlington.
The Wellness Center Dance Program, featuring jazz, ballet, and tap dances, will take place at 5 p.m. at the Darlington Festival Grounds, on Saturday, June 8.
“We love performing for people,” said Abby McKillip, Dance Instructor for the Wellness Center Dancers. “We have multiple dance routines that we’ve been working on. Parents and grandparents are going to be amazed, as the growth and abilities are obvious this year. We are looking forward to putting on this year’s show.”
Former Wellness Center Dancers are assisting McKillip with this year’s production, which will include large and small group routines, a few solo dance acts and some last minute surprises.
“Those kids really put forth the effort,” said Nancy Winslow of the Wellness Center Dancers. Winslow is also the director of the Canoe Fest Talent Show, which will follows the dancers’ performances at approximately 6 p.m.
The Talent Show will begin with the Star Spangled Banner, followed by local performers showcasing their abilities as they entertain the crowd with a variety of performances. Winslow will announce each act as they take the stage.
The deadline to sign up for the Talent Show, which has over $600 in prize money, is Wednesday, June 5. There is no entry fee. To sign up or learn more, contact Nancy Winslow by calling 776-4736 or 608-482-1140.
“Each performer will come home with something,” Winslow said. “Every contestant should feel like a winner.”
Nick’s Kids Show will entertain crowds for three performances on Saturday, June 8. Nick Dattilo and his wife, Kim, will perform at 12:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4:15 p.m. at the Darlington Festival Grounds.
The Dattilos bring their musical instruments to the stage to entertain kids of all ages.
“It’s the kids that are the stars of the show,” said Nick Dattilo. “We allow them the creativity of entertaining each other.”
Several fan favorite songs are returning, such as “Locomotion”, which encourages kids of all ages to get up and dance in a train formation.
“Even if we have the exact same show planned, it’s the audience that determines the outcome of entertainment,” Nick Dattilo said. “It’s really a good time for us as much as it is for the audience.”
The Dattilos have been entertaining audiences for the past 20 years. They live in Kenosha during the summer before heading south to their winter home in Florida.
Y’Allbee Inflatables of Potosi is supplying entertainment to families of all ages throughout the weekend. The large inflatables will be available on Friday June 7, from 5-10 p.m., and Saturday, June 8, from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
“We are bringing the large obstacle courses, inflatable games, huge inflatable slides, and all of the biggest bounce houses that we have available,” said Ryan Allbee of Y’Allbee Inflatables. His goal has always been to provide entertainment to families, especially as there isn’t always an opportunity to entertain the smallest members of the families.
Making entertainment his goal, he got into the business through another local friend.
“I started Y’Allbee Tubin’ in 2013, while a friend started Brad’s Party Jump Inflatables in Lancaster about the same time. Things happen, as they sometimes do, and we purchased the inflatables from Brad the summer of 2022,” Allbee said.
There are a lot of new and returning food vendors at this year’s Canoe Fest, including local small businesses and volunteer committees earning funds for necessary needs throughout the area.
