what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | May 21, 2009
Dogs and ponies and pollen, oh my! There’s lots of outdoor fun happening this weekend. It’s also Eat! Vancouver
for all you foodie families out there.
VSO Tiny Tots: Let’s Have a Playdate!
Friday, May 22nd, 10 am, 11:30 am & 1:30 pm, Vancouver Playhouse, Hamilton & Dunsmuir, Vancouver
Linda and Lisa will be playing hide and seek, bouncing the ball and playing other fun games, all set against the backdrop of the music of Brahms. Call 604.876.3434 for tickets: www.vancouversymphony.ca
Nature Walk in Hastings Park
Saturday, May 23rd, 9 am – 11 am, Hastings Park, meet south-east of the large red barns in the middle of the site at the north-east corner of the Sanctuary, Vancouver
We’re guessing this two hour nature walk is best for babes in carriers or strollers. Bring your binoculars to help you identify the 106 species of birds who inhabit this urban wilderness, but leave your pups at home. You’ll also learn about local plants, trees, flowers and aquatic life: hastingspark.ca
BCSPCA Open House
Saturday, May 23rd, 11 am – 3 pm, BCSPCAVancouver Shelter, 1205 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver
Enjoy pancakes ’til 1 pm and take in live music, shelter tours, clowns, face painters and lots of kids’ activities that bring awareness to the BCSPCA’s mandate to prevent cruelty to animals. They ask that you bring a donation of small animal food or toys. But do harden your heart against entreaties to take home a puppy or a kitten before you go: www.spca.bc.ca/vancouver
Plant & Collectibles Sale
Saturday, May 23rd, 11 am – 2 pm, Colbourne House, 8743 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
You’ll find plants, collectibles on sale, plus you can check out local artists. And at 1:30 you can tour the heritage Colbourne House: www.marpolehistorical.ca
South Hill Festival
Saturday, May 23rd, Noon – 4 pm, Fraser Street from 43rd to 47th Avenues, Vancouver
With a theme of ‘Energy in Action’, the festival includes a climbing wall, street sports, a bouncy castle, pony rides and chance to discover the community through a scavenger hunt and lots, lots more. And it’s all for free: vancouver.ca
Plant Detectives: The Mystery of the Stolen Pollen
Sunday, May 24th, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
Kids from four to 11 can don their detective hats and help solve the mystery of the stolen pollen. Who stole it and why? And now they’ve got it what are they going to do with it? Pre-registration is required, call 604.718.5898: vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen
Movies for Mommies: Family Screening of Monsters vs Aliens
Wednesday, May 27th, 1 pm (doors open at 12:30 pm), Ridge Theatre, 3131 Arbutus Street, Vancouver
Next Wednesday Movies for Mommies is screening Monsters vs Aliens, which appeals to parents and their tots, so be sure to bring your toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged kids, grandparents, neighbors…heck, anyone who could use some afternoon fun: www.moviesformommies.com
Farther Afield:
Bug Lab Jr. Scientists
Friday, May 22nd, 10:30 am – Noon, Surrey Museum, 17710 56A Avenue, Surrey
Kids will get a chance to observe giant leaf insects, walking stick insects, African millipedes, hissing cockroaches and even a tarantula. They’ll also get a chance to make their own bug catcher to take home. Hmm, not for the faint of heart perhaps. Pre register by calling 604.592.6956: www.surrey.ca
Ladner Pioneer May Days
Friday May 22nd, 3 pm – 10 pm (midway only, Saturday, May 23rd, 10 am – 6 pm (midway open til 10 pm) & Sunday, May 24th, 10 am – 6 pm, Memorial Park (corner of Garry Street and 47th Avenue), Delta
One of BC’s largest, free family fairs, you’ll find heaps of activities and entertainment including live bands, a craft fair, jugglers, magicians, balloon artists, a petting zoo, carnival rides and a food fair. And at noon on Sunday, Ladner’s May Day Parade will culminate in a traditional May Pole Dance and the crowing of the May Queen: www.ladnermaydays.org
Garden With Me
Saturday, May 23rd, 10 am – Noon, Surrey Nature Centre, 9800-140 Street, Surrey
Learn how to grow your own plants and veggies with your tots. It’s fun, it’s free and they provide everything you need. And just imagine reaping the rewards a few months from now: www.surrey.ca
Birds a’Humming
Saturday, May 23rd, 10 am – 11:30 am, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Burnaby
Preschool aged kids can learn about hummingbirds as they walk along nature trails and play bird games. Pre register by calling 604.432.6359: www.metrovancouver.org
Silver Valley Spring Festival
Saturday, May 23rd, 10:30 am – 3 pm, Maple Ridge Park, 23200 Fern Crescent (232 and Fern Crescent), Maple Ridge
This fun, family event is about enjoying and preserving Silver Valley’s natural beauty. There’ll be a salmon fry release ceremony, live music, mascots, unique vendors, nature walks and lots of family activities and games: www.mapleridge.ca
Sheep to Shawl Competition
Saturday, May 23rd, 11 am – 4 pm, Surrey Museum, 17710 56A Avenue, Surrey
Kids can try weaving and making sheep crafts and pix while they watch and cheer on local spinning and weaving guilds as they card, spin and ply raw sheep’s wool into yarn and then weave a shawl. And they have to do it all in four hours. You can also catch demos of sheep shearing: www.surrey.ca
City of Richmond Public Works Yard Open House
Saturday, May 23rd, 11 am – 3 pm, City Operations Yard, 5599 Lynas Lane, Richmond
It’s always popular among the under five set when the Works Yards open their doors. This weekend kids’ll get hands on demos of excavators, dump trucks, remote control equipment and other heavy machinery, plus there’ll be live music, a huge sandy play area, a fish pond, face painting and lots, lots more: www.richmond.ca
Conceive the Dream – Canadian Infertility Awareness Week
Saturday, May 23rd, 2 pm, 2nd Annual Walk to bring awareness of infertility to Canada, the walk begins and ends on the Parliament Buildings lawn, Victoria
One in six Canadian couples struggle with infertility. This walk aims at ending this often silent struggle and will be followed by speeches, refreshments and snacks: www.familypassages.ca
Queensborough: A Day in 1859
Sunday, May 24th, 11 am – 4 pm, Ryall Park & Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Avenue, New Westminster
As part of New Westminster’s 150 Celebrations, the park will be buzzing with a Strawberry Tea, hiStory Time tent, lots of yummy ethnic food, cultural performances, a community marketplace, and displays and demos. You can even create a family crest: www.bclocalnews.com
Grand Opening of the Steveston Farmers Market
Sunday, May 24th, 10 am – 3 pm, Gulf of Georgia Cannery Parking Lot, Steveston
We love this time of year when all the Farmers Markets are back in bloom. Stock up on local goodies and why not take some time to explore Steveston while you’re at it: www.stevestoncommunitysociety.com
And we wanted to remind you to always call or visit the website for event info before you head out just in case any changes have been made since we posted it. And of course, have fun!
Leave a Comment
Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
