what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | January 21, 2010
This isn’t really a weekend guide, it’s more of a weeklong guide full of family fun! You’ll also notice a distinctly Olympic feel to much of what’s happening and this is just the beginning…
The Streetcar Returns to Vancouver
Thursday, January 21st – Sunday, March 21st, 6:30 am – 12:30 am daily, between Granville Island and 2nd Avenue and Cambie Street, Vancouver
The Olympic Line, a free transit system incorporating streetcars, is launching today with a chance to receive a rider certificate from Bombardier Transportation and the Host City Team. On opening day there’ll also be live entertainment and an opportunity to meet Olympians and Paralympians. We can’t wait to take the streetcar to Granville Island, it’ll save so much parking hassle: olympichostcity.vancouver.ca
Launch of Welcome to Our World: A Public Celebration
Thursday Jan 21st, 1 pm – 2:30 pm, ArtStarts Gallery, 808 Richards Street, Vancouver
Over the next three months professional artists will be visiting local schools to run workshops that will result in a graphic novel celebrating the children’s excitement about the Games. And when it’s all done it will be on display at the ArtStarts Gallery: olympichostcity.vancouver.ca
Doula Speed Dating from Adar Birth Services & The Midwifery Group
Thurs, Jan 21st, 7 pm, The Midwifery Group, 3980 Main Street @ 23rd Avenue, Vancouver
Here’s a chance to meet with several doulas and decide which is the right one to accompany you on your meaningful and intimate journey through pregnancy and childbirth. Save yourself time and energy at this free event. Please register in advance by emailing info@AdarBirthServices.com or calling 778.847.2273: www.adarbirthservices.com
The Wizard of Oz Pantomime
Thursday, January 21st – Saturday, January 30th, 7 pm, plus matinees at 2 pm on January 23rd and 30th, St. Martin’s Church Hall, 195 East Windsor Road (off Lonsdale Avenue), North Vancouver
Pantomimes, with their focus on audience participation and general rambunctiousness are great ways to introduce young kids to live theatre. This one, loosely based on the Wizard of Oz is packed with wizards, yellow brick roads, ruby slippers and more: www.smpdramatics.com
LunarFest – Magical Lanterns Illuminate Vancouver
Friday, January 22nd, 4:30 pm – 8 pm, (and ongoing to February 28th), Granville Pedestrian Corridor (between Georgia & Robson), Vancouver
It’s the Second Annual LunarFest and it includes thousands of lanterns decorated by school age kids and visual art installations by ten Canadian and Taiwanese contemporary artists including a story wall projection, a lantern forest and on the 13th and 14th of February they’ll help kick of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad with a lantern procession. The lighting ceremony is happening at 4:30 pm on the 22nd and the Olympic mascots will be there: lunarfest.org
STREB: RAW
Friday, January 22nd, 7 pm, Saturday, January 23rd & Sunday, January 24th, 2 pm & 7 pm, Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
STREB Extreme Action Company is a New York dance company that makes its magic with unusual equipment (to say the least), everything from plywood, steel and glass which are used for acrobatic jumps, falls and stunts. Definitely a show that will be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. Be sure to get your tix in advance: www.roundhouse.ca
Preschool Fair
Saturday January 23rd, 10 am – 1 pm, John Braithwaite Community Centre, 145 W 1st Street, North Vancouver
If you’re interested in the Grand Boulevard Parent Participation here’s your chance to learn more. There’ll be arts and crafts and a chance to connect with other parents at this free event: www.gbppp.com
Celebration of Creativity – Launch of new MOA
Saturday, January 23rd, 10 am – Midnight, Sunday, January 24th, 11 am – 5 pm & Tuesday, January 25th, 7 pm – 9 pm, Museum of Anthropology, 6393 N.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver
They’re back and better than ever. After a long renewal and renovation, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is celebrating with two full days of music, dance and art events for all ages and events and admission are free on the weekend. Sunday is focused on more all-ages events with storytelling, opera demos, movie screenings and interactive art activities: moa.ubc.ca/events
Family Geo Caching Challenge
Saturday January 23rd, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm, Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch Street, Vancouver
Geocaching is like a treasure hunt using a GPS to find hide and seek containers anywhere in the world. Here’s you’re chance to get your feet wet with a day of treasure hunting at Kits Beach and check out this addictive hobby (kids love it too) for yourself. Bring your own GPS if you have one and register in advance: www.kitscc.com
A Taste of Burns
Saturday Jan 23rd, 6 pm – 10 pm, Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver
This informal intro to Robert Burns is a family event including highland dancers, piping in the Haggis, a light supper and more. Call 604.940.9260 to get your tickets: www.mnbsociety.com
Explore Sundays
Sunday, January 24th & Sunday, February 21st, Tours from Noon to 4 pm, Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Avenue, Vancouver
Here’s a rare chance for your young, nautically inclined kids to get up close and personal with the engine room and main hold of the RCMP Arctic Schooner St Roch, and areas of the museum not normally open to the public: www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com
Centennial Theatre presents The Gizmo Guys
Sunday, January 24th, 2 pm, Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver
The Gizmo Guys are known for their amazing juggling combined with infectious humour, dazzling technique and rapid-fire act that’s entertaining for all ages: www.centennialtheatre.com
North Van Lullaby League Mixer
Monday, January 25th, 7pm, Zazou Salon and Spa in the Lynn Valley Village, 3033 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver
Need a sitter? This is a painless way to power through a whole whack of interviews in one fell swoop and hopefully find the right sitter for your family. But do register in advance, they usually sell out: www.lullabyleague.ca
Family Literacy Day
Wednesday, January 27th, across BC and Canada
Every year on January 27th Canadians celebrate literacy with special events coordinated by literacy organizations, school and libraries. Find events near you at: www.abc-canada.org/en/fld/2010
Farther Afield:
Cloth Diaper Info Night
Thursday, January 21st, 6 pm, Langley Events Center, 7888 200 Street (enter near playground), Langley
At this family (& stroller) friendly event, hosted by Chic to Cheek Boutique and Bouncing Babies, you’ll learn all the how-tos of cloth diapering including washing and care and all the options and styles available: www.chictocheek.ca
Tastes of Italy
Friday, January 22nd, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Avenue, New Westminster
Italy’s brought culinary gifts like pizza, spaghetti, minestrone and tiramisu to the world. The Queensborough Community Centre will be celebrating the food, music and dance of Italy with a Tastes of Italy dinner where bambinos are more than welcome: www.nwpr.bc.ca
Kids’ Swap Meet
Saturday, January 23rd, 9 am – 1 pm, Douglas Recreation Centre, 20550 Douglas Crescent, Langley
Here’s your chance to buy (or sell) kids clothing, goodies and gear: fraservalleypulse.com
Surrey Reads
Saturday, January 23rd, Noon – 4 pm, Guildford Mall, Centre Court, 104th Avenue & 152nd Street, Surrey
The Centre Court at Guilford Shopping Centre will be hosting this family event that’s all about building awareness and excitement around literacy with fun activities and performers. The event’s free but it’s suggested you bring a children’s book for the Surrey Food Bank: guildford.shopping.ca
Art Gallery Family Sunday
Sunday, January 24th, 1 pm – 4 pm, 7700 Minoru Gate in the Cultural Centre, Richmond
On the fourth Sunday of each month the gallery offers this fun, free drop-in art program that allows families to explore art making together: www.richmondartgallery.org
In the B.A.G. – Free Family Sunday Programs
Sunday, January 24th, 1 pm – 4 pm, Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
The Burnaby Art Gallery (aka the BAG) is offering an interactive experience combining the current gallery exhibit with a free, hands-on studio activity that starts every half hour from 1 to 3:30 pm. And this Sunday it’s all about paintings inspired by Gordon Smith: www.burnabyartgallery.ca
Family Fun Nights
Tuesday, January 26th, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Port Moody Public Library (Civic Centre located across from Newport Village), ParkLane Room, Guildford & Ioco, Port Moody
Kids from three to six are invited to explore the letters of the alphabet through stories, songs and crafts to help build their pre-reading skills. Please register in advance: www.library.portmoody.ca
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!
