Parents, caregivers and children five years and under are invited to attend the Cranbrook Early Learning Fair on April 27. The event is a place to gather information on early childhood services available locally.

"We have a number of early childhood services available that day for parents to have a look around and they can gather some information about the kinds of services available to them if they have children between the ages of 0 and six," said Kim Levie, with East Kootenay Childcare Resource and Referral. "The families that come, they get a goodie bag with different things and what we try and do is provide different things that will promote development in the children."

The event is an annual one and is put on in collaboration with the Early Childhood Development team in Cranbrook and School District 5. The school district supports the event by allowing it to be held in a school gymnasium. This year the Early Learning Fair will be held in the Kootenay Orchards (1301 20th Ave. S.) gym from 9 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, April 27.

Not only is there lots of information available to parents and caretakers but the event is fun for the kids to attend too.

"This year there's going to be a face painter there, Deanne Perreault, the children's librarian will be there doing story time and we've got someone coming with their guitar and singing so the children can sing songs as well," Levie said. "It's just a really good, fun event for families and their younger children."

No registration is necessary and it's a drop-in event so people can come by anytime between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and stay as long as they like.

Levie also encouraged new parents to attend and see what services are offered in Cranbrook.

"For those who are new parents, it's a great way to gather information on what kinds of services are out there," she said. "There's lots of free services, drop in programs, and those kinds of things and there will be some representation there for those."